They hoped that, even without their guns, they would still be enabled to procure sufficient game for their support; and as they all lay awake, just before the breaking of the day, this became the subject of their conversation.
Ossaroo still felt full confidence in his bow and arrows; and should these fail, there was his fishing-net; and if that also were to draw blank, the experienced shikaree knew a score of other schemes for circumventing the beasts of the earth, the birds of the air, and the finny denizens of the water.

Karl expressed his determination, as soon as spring should return, to commence cultivating certain edible roots and plants, which grew rather sparsely around, but, by the careful propagation of which, a crop might be procured of sufficient abundance.
Moreover, they resolved that in the following year they should store up such wild fruits and berries as were fit for food; and thus insure themselves against any chance of famine for months to come.

The failure of their late attempt with the ladders had reproduced within them the firm though fearful conviction, that for the rest of their lives they were destined to dwell within the mountain valley--never more to go beyond the bounds of that stupendous prison-like wall that encircled them.
With this impression now freshly stamped upon their minds, they returned to speculate on the means of present existence, as also on that of their more immediate future; and in this way did they pass the last hour of the night--that which was succeeded by the daybreak.
As the first streaks of dawning day appeared upon the snowy summits-- several of which were visible from the door of the hut--all three might have been seen outside preparing themselves for the execution of some important design.

Their purpose might easily be told from the character of their preparations.

Caspar was charging his double-barrelled gun; and carefully too--for it was the "last shot in his locker." Karl was similarly employed with his rifle, while Ossaroo was arming himself in his peculiar fashion, looking to the string of his bow, and filling the little wicker bag, that constituted his quiver, with sharp-pointed arrows.
From this it was evident that the chase was the occupation immediately intended, and that all three were about to engage in it.