Indeed, there was every probability that, had they not lost that kite, they would have been able in due time to have climbed out of their rock-bound prison by a ladder of rope; but now all chance of doing so was gone for ever--swept off by a single puff of wind.
You may be fancying, that the misfortune was not irremediable.

Another kite, you will be saying, might be constructed out of similar materials as those used in making the one carried away.

But to say this, would be to speak without a full knowledge of the circumstances.
The same thought had already passed through the minds of our adventurers, when they perceived that the kite they were flying was getting torn and otherwise damaged.
"We can easily make another," suggested Caspar at that crisis.
"No, brother," was the answer of Karl; "never another, I fear.

We have paper enough left to patch this one; but not enough to make another." "But we can make more paper, can we not ?" urged Caspar, interrogatively.
"Ah!" again replied Karl, with a negative shake of the head, "no more-- not another sheet!" "But why?
Do you think there are no more daphne trees ?" "I think there are not.

You remember we stripped all there were in the thicket; and since then, thinking we might need more bark, I have gone all through the valley, and explored it in every direction, without meeting with a single shrub of the daphne.