"Oh, I see a light in de sky!"
At the same instant all saw it, high up and directly in front.
The light looked like the glow of a wonderful fire opal, set in the inky blackness of the sky.
Brighter and brighter it grew each moment, till the reflected light penetrated the profound depths of the cañon.
It was the rising sun saluting the highest snow peaks of the mountains, a section of which was visible in front.
With the joy of the blind when the blessing of sight is restored, our friends watched the increasing light coming down from the sky.
Gradually the towering walls of the cañon became more distinct, till at length their far-off summits could be seen, with here and there a cedar clinging for dear life to the giddy ledges.
"If dis yar day is gwyne to be ez long ez de last night," said Ike, when he felt that the coming of the sun was not a false alarm, "why, I reckon we'll all be ole men afore it gits dark agin."
Even the dog gained courage by the coming of the day, and sitting up he began to bark in a way that proved his interest in the world was returning.
There was no means of telling how far they had been borne by the current during the long hours of that awful night, but as soon as it was light again Sam took the pole and resumed his position as helmsman.