The Plant Hunters

summary

Ossaroo, having fashioned a hemp net, nearly sank in quicksand while hauling a large fish and was rescued by Caspar; subsequently the trio slew a bear and explored an immense cave where their torches failed and they became disoriented. They subsisted on the bear’s flesh, rendered its fat into tallow and moulded candles from emptied gun barrels to regain light and escape, but repeated explorations later failed to find a through‑route and they reluctantly accepted prolonged isolation, consoling themselves with faith.