CHAPTER XXV.
O'Brien parts company to hunt for provisions, and I have other company in consequence of another hunt--O'Brien pathetically mourns my death and finds me alive--We escape.
The ensuing morning we looked out anxiously for the promised assistance, for we were not very rich in provisions, although what we had were of a very good quality.

It was not until three o'clock in the afternoon that we perceived a little girl coming towards us, escorted by a large mastiff.

When she arrived at the copse of trees where we lay concealed, she cried out to the dog in Dutch, who immediately scoured the wood until he came to our hiding-place, when he crouched down at the entrance, barking furiously, and putting us in no small dread, lest he should attack us; but the little girl spoke to him again, and he remained in the same position, looking at us, wagging his tail, with his under jaw lying on the snow.

She soon came up, and looking underneath, put a basket in, and nodded her head.

We emptied the basket.