212 LOST IN THE WILDERNESS 



that he would exhaust himself pretty quickly at 

 the rate he was going. Any way I determined to 

 follow till I found him. Some distance from 

 where he had dropped the axes and kettle I had 

 found his hat which had been brushed off his head 

 and he had never stopped to pick it up. I had 

 started after him without anything, but not con- 

 sidering this prudent, as I could not know where 

 and in what condition I would find him, I went 

 back for one of the axes and the kettle and some 

 grub from the pack. I was just tying this up 

 in a small bundle when I heard a noise. Listen- 

 ing intently, it grew more distinct and came from 

 the left side of the mountain. I could hear the 

 breaking of twigs and branches. I knew imme- 

 diately that it must be William. I rushed in his 

 direction, shouting out his name, and then I saw 

 a sight I shall never forget. There he was rush- 

 ing madly down the hill at the top of his speed, 

 his face and hands bloody from numerous 

 scratches, and streaming with perspiration. He 

 wore very long hair which gave him a still more 

 haggard appearance. On catching sight of me he 

 rushed towards me like a wild beast and put his 

 two arms around my neck, half choking me and 

 shouting, "Alex, Alex, don't leave me, for God's 

 sake, don't leave me." I managed to quiet him 

 and lighted a good fire to give him a rest and 

 time to cool down. He was very much depressed 

 and utterly unfit for work that day. In fact it 



