"I turned round, crying out, 'here I am, here I am!' and toiled painfully up towards the ledge, struggling now against the current, but buoyed up with hope and courage.
"At last I managed to crawl out of the bed which the torrent had hollowed out, I stood once more on my feet, and made my way towards the place whence the voices came.
"I saw Périères and Delange.
"As soon as they caught sight of me they rushed towards me.
"'Ah!' I exclaimed, looking round in all directions, and with my voice trembling with emotion, 'Madame de Guéran is not with you! She has perished?'
"'No, no,' said Périères, 'she is saved!'
"'Nobody has perished,' added Delange, 'neither Madame de Guéran, nor
Miss Poles!'
"'Where are they?' I asked.
"'Close by, under the care of our guide; they are bruised and battered about, but they have not sustained any serious injury.'
"Then I raised my eyes to look at our two friends, and I saw that their hands and faces were bleeding.