There was a faint whistle from the distance, and Watty leaped up, and, thrusting his fingers into his mouth, blew an answer. A couple of minutes later, as the boys stood watching in the direction from which the sound had come, they made out three figures on the slope of the mountain. Then these three figures stopped, and began to wave their caps, and directly after they broke into a trot, and were soon up by the fire. "Steve, lad!" cried Captain Marsham. "Thank God, you are safe!" "Where have you been, boy?" cried the doctor joyfully, as he wrung the hand the captain had left at liberty. "Why, you have made me a job. Get some water, my lad," he continued to Watty, and laying down his gun he began to take out a pocket-book to get sticking-plaster and scissors. "I'm very glad, Mr Steve," said Johannes quietly. "We thought you were lost." While the doctor washed away the marks left by Steve's fall and carefully applied sticking-plaster the boy told his adventure, Watty listening again attentively, and now watching the speaker, now the mountain-side, in full expectation of seeing the bear make its appearance from one of the gullies; but there was no interruption, and they heard all. "You must not leave your friends again, my lad," said the captain. "We must all be ready to help each other; co-operation is power. Well, how do you feel now?" "So stiff I can hardly move," replied Steve. "Then we must camp here for a few hours. Fortunately we have a little of the provisions in our satchels. Where's the rest of the meat, my lad?" Watty turned more red than usual. "There isna a pit left, sir. Meester Stevey ate oop a' there wass left." "Bravo, Steve, my boy!" cried the doctor merrily. "Any one who can eat well has not much the matter with him." "I felt starved when I came back," said Steve, colouring. "I couldn't help it." Watty looked horribly guilty; but his was not the nature to make a clean breast of the matter, and he sat furtively watching the little party as the provisions were brought out; and free from care now, they all began to eat. "Here, Watty," said Steve, as soon as he received a portion, "we must not forget you." "Na, sir, she couldna eat a pit," cried the lad truthfully, and it was only by great persuasion that his modesty was overcome; but certainly he did not do justice to the biscuits and cheese handed to him, for there were limits even to his capacity. Just as they had about finished, a distant barking was heard, and Steve tried to stand up, but sank back with a groan. "Skeny!" he cried. "Oh, I say, I am stiff!" "The dog! Ah, where has he been all this time?" "She went off efter the teer, and tidna come pack." "Not after deer now, gentlemen," cried Johannes, snatching up his spear. "Quick! your guns."