The idea about the cave was a good one, and gave them some little
comfort in the midst of their tribulation.
Still, it was not much; for although they would be safe enough while in
the cavern, they could not accomplish anything there. The want of light
would hinder them from working at the ladders; and while cutting the
timber out of which to make them, and every hour that they might be
engaged upon them, they would be exposed to the attacks of their
implacable enemy.
The prospect was sufficiently discouraging--even with the knowledge that
the cave would offer them a safe asylum to which they could retreat
whenever pursued.
As the elephant remained comparatively tranquil for a length of time,
these thoughts of future operations had engaged their attention.
Confident in their present security, they were not troubled by the fear
of any immediate danger.
Very soon, however, this confidence began to forsake them. How long
were they going to be kept in the tree? That was a question that now
presented itself; and as the time passed, became a source of uneasiness.
Though none of them could answer this question, yet all could understand
that the siege promised to be a long one--perhaps much longer than that
which had so lately been raised: for the rogue, inspired by a rage
profound and implacable, exhibited in his sullen look a determination to
stand his ground for an indefinite period of time. Seeing this, our
adventurers once more became uneasy. Not only was their situation
irksome--from the fact of their having to sit astride slender branches--
but should the siege be continued, they would be subjected to that
danger peculiar to all people besieged--the danger of starvation. Even
at the outset all three were as hungry as wolves. They had eaten but a
very light breakfast, and nothing since: for they had not found time to
cook dinner. It was now late in the afternoon; and should the enemy
continue there all night, they would have to go to bed supperless. Ah!
to bed indeed. Perhaps there would be neither bed nor sleep that night:
for how could they slumber upon those hard branches? Should they lose
consciousness for a moment, they would drop off, and tumble down upon
their sleepless besieger! Even should they tie themselves in the tree,
to go to sleep upon such narrow couches would be out of the question.
Thus, then, they saw no prospect of either supper or sleep for that
night. But there was another appetite now annoying them far worse than
either hunger or longing for sleep. It was the desire to drink. The
rough and varied exercise which they had been compelled to take since
starting in the morning--climbing trees, and skulking through pathless
jungles--combined with the varied emotions which their repeated perils
had called up--all had a tendency to produce thirst; and thirst they now
felt in an extreme degree. It was not lessened by the sight of the
water shining beneath them. On the contrary, this only increased the
craving to an extent that was almost unendurable.
For a considerable time they bore the pain, without any hope of being
able to get relieved of it; and with the lake glistening before their
eyes under the clear sunlight, and the current gently gliding through
the straits underneath, they could realise, in something more than
fancy, what must have been the terrible sufferings of poor Tantalus.
After submitting to this infliction for a considerable length of time,
an exclamation escaping from Caspar drew upon him the attention of the
others.
"Dunder und blitzen!" cried he; "what have we been thinking about all
this time? The three of us sitting here choking with thirst, and a
river of water within our reach!"
"Within our reach? I wish it were, Caspar," rejoined Karl, in rather a
desponding tone.
"Certainly it is within our reach. Look here!"
As Caspar spoke, he held out his copper powder-flask, now nearly empty.
Karl did not yet quite comprehend him.
"What is to hinder us from letting this down," he inquired, "and drawing
it up again full of water? Nothing. Have you a piece of string about
you, Ossy?"
"Yes, sahib, I have," briskly replied the shikaree, at the same time
drawing a roll of hempen twist out of the breast of his cotton shirt,
and holding it out towards the young hunter.
"Long enough, it is," said Caspar, taking the cord; which the next
moment he attached around the neck of the flask. After pouring the
powder into his bullet-pouch, he permitted the flask to drop down till
it became immersed under the current. Allowing it to remain there, till
it had become filled with water, he drew it up again; and with a
congratulatory exclamation presented it to Karl, telling him to drink to
his heart's content. This injunction Karl obeyed without the slightest
reluctance.
The flask was soon emptied; and once more let down and re-filled, and
again emptied; and this series of operations was continued, until all
were satisfied, and there was no longer a thirsty individual in the top
of that tree.