Part 24 (1/2)

”What, would you have him shoot this affectionate old bear?” asked Alec

A irls, and Winnie asked hied Frank to save his gun and a else should be lost

”Not the slightest idea,” was his answer

”Well,” replied Rachel, ”as the fury of the stor to explain the o out on the beach and fire three times in quick succession”

Frank and Alec at once cohed at their own stupidity The firing of the gun would bring their rescuers speedily to the people, their retreat was too distant froun to reach that place

However, just as soon as Mr Ross saw the stor he suin the search as soon as it was possible to risk the angry waves which a cyclone of this description stirs up For at least three hours they had to wait ere they could ry waters they shoved out their boats, and in different directions started on the search

In thepeople in their strange place of refuge Noting the increasing brightness, as the black clouds were now rapidly rolling away, Rachel suggested that three more shots be fired In a few minutes more they were repeated, and soon after, as the rain had now nearly ceased, the whole party caloomy cave retreat On every side were evidences of the terrific power of the cyclone Great trees had been torn up by the roots, while others had been snapped off, leaving the stuh

Apart fro was soon sis are very long

Here was now one of wondrous beauty The angry waves were quickly dying away into pleasant ripples The sun was setting behind soold and crimson, and the air, purified by the cyclone, see, Frank,” said Rachel, ”for doubtless there are boats out long ere this, looking for what is left of us”

”Listen!” said Winnie, who, being wonderfully gifted in hearing, had been the first to detect an answering gun ”One, two, three, four

Fire again!” she cried ”They have heard, but are uncertain as to the direction”

Again the three reports of the gun sounded in quick succession, and soon there was the answer of two guns, which meant, ”We hear you now and will soon be with you”

To Mr Ross's great relief and satisfaction, it was the boat, e that was the first to hear the firing of Frank's gun Some of his Indian crew had detected reports before he had, but nothing would satisfy him until the welcome sound fell on his own ears

”Pull, men!” he fairly shouted, ”and let us see how many of those loved ones have survived that storm If any of them are drowned, you need not take me home”

Not aSuch was the love they all had for those young people that gladly would any one of them have risked his own life for theirs

Around the next point, now not far away, again rang out the three reports, and soon a reeted the eyes of Mr Ross and his crew For there, distinctly visible on the shore, were four happy young people waving their welcomes

”Thank God,” reverently said Mr Ross ”They are all safe” And, strong man that he was, he wept like a child Other eyes than his were moist also With an effort he checked his deep emotion, and was so able to control himself that ere the shore was reached he was cal distance hearty words of congratulation rapidly passed back and forward Such was the nature of the shore that a good place where they could step into the boat from the shore was not easily found, and so the men at the oars rowed up on the sandy beach as far as they could, and then, running out three oars, made a walk that answered very well

Good Mr Ross was so ith delight at the fact of the preservation of these young folks, whom he loved so well, that he was the first to rush out and try and gather them all in his arms

In the excitement of the rescue Napoleon, the tah he had been doing his share of thinking, and had come to the conclusion that, if his liberty was to be associated with cyclones, he had had enough of it; and so, just as Mr Ross and the young people were about to go on board the boat, he deliberately ca himself, walked up on the oars and took a comfortable position in the boat

His unexpected appearance very uns Alec, quick to see his danger, rushed up, and taking a position beside Napoleon forbade any shooting, and speedily made some very necessary explanations, much to the relief and a to return to Sagasta-weekee, and great indeed were the rejoicings there