Hans had taken his gun and followed them in a great hurry, telling Truey and Jan to keep in the tree, and not come down until he returned.

He would be gone only a very little while, and they needn't fear.
This was all they knew.

They could not even tell what direction he had taken.

He went by the lower end of the vley; but soon the bushes hid him from their view, and they saw no more of him.
"At what time was it ?" It was many hours ago,--in the morning in fact,--not long after the hunters themselves had started.

When he did not return the children grew uneasy; but they thought he had fallen in with papa and Hendrik, and was helping them to hunt; and that was the reason why he stayed so long.
"Had they heard any report of a gun ?" No--they had listened for that, but heard none.