THE CHOSEN ONES ( PART SEVENTEEN )

After a while, Nathen said, "Ben I have been down
in this bear pit for four days now, I need to eat,
all I've had is insects, I'm so hungry please is it
possible for you to hunt?"
"I have a spear," called Ben,
"That is good," said Nathen, "do you think you could catch a rabbit?"
"I can try, but I've never hunted before, this is
me pa's spear, and I'm really weak."

"If you help me out," said Nathen, "I can show you
how to fish."
"Me pa told me never to leave the forest, it's too
dangerous," said Ben.
"I have left the forest many times," said Nathen,
"it is dangerous if you don't know what you are
doing, your father was right to warn you, but you
are growing up now and you will need to learn to
look after yourself, I can teach you," said Nathen.

Ben felt quite excited at the prospect of catching
fish, so he decided that his instincts told him,
he could trust Nathen.

Ben turned away and thought, he remembered some
thick rope that his pa had made.

He turned to Nathen and said, "I will be gone a
while, but I will return."
"Where are you going?" Nathen wanted to know.
"My pa has some rope, back at our camp, I think I
can use it to get you out," replied Ben.
"Please don't take to long Ben," Nathen didn't want
to stay in this filthy pit, a moment longer.
"Don't worry, it's not far," Ben said turning and
running off through the trees.

When Ben reached the camp, he rummaged through his
father's box, he found the rope and started back
to Nathen. When he reached the pit, he threw one
end into the pit, Nathen grabbed the end.
"I'm going to tie this other end to a tree, then you can pull yourself up," called Ben.
"Okay!" said Nathen, hoping he would beable to manage it, being so weak.

It was not long before Nathen was out of the pit.
"My pa was a good rope maker, hey Nathen?"
"Very good," replied Nathen. "How far is it to your
camp Ben?"
Ben pointed and said it would only take a while to
get there.
"Then let's go!" replied Nathen.

To be continued ..........