The next morning, a search party is organized to look for Buddy, but she is not found. As the sun sets, Buddy gets hungry. In an effort to survive, she cooks a fish over a campfire for herself and Skipper. The next day, a wild cougar finds Buddy and Skipper and lunges at them. To escape, Buddy and Skipper jump off the mountain into the river. The fall hurts Buddy's ankle and she resourcefully makes a crutch for herself out of tree limbs. She hobbles on, still scared and very lost.

As Penny, Jeff, Wyatt and other townspeople finish a unsuccessful search the second day, Buddy is found by the reclusive Mr. Newsome, a gruff old hermit who lives in the mountains.


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