The peril from which he had just escaped, drove all thoughts of fishing out of Ossaroo’s head, for that day at least. Moreover, the net was damaged by the rope having been so rudely taken out, and would require repairs before it could be set again; so, taking up the fish that had been caught and the net also, Caspar and the fisherman walked off toward the hut.
On arriving there, they were surprised to find that Karl had not returned, for it was getting late; and fearing that some accident might have happened to him, they lost no time in setting forth in search of him.
As already known they were guided upon his trail by Fritz, and arrived just in time to save Karl’s life.
“But tell us, brother,” inquired Caspar after a while, “what took you up there anyhow?”
Karl now entered into a detail of his afternoon’s adventures—telling them at the same time of the hope he had conceived of their being able to scale the precipice with ladders.
When he came to the bear, Caspar was all ears.
“What! a bear?” he exclaimed; “a bear, you say, brother?—Which way did it go?”
“Into the cave—it is still there.”
“Still in the cave! Good! we’ll have him out—let us go after him at once.”
“No, brother, it is better not,—it might be dangerous to attack, him in the cave.”