"Where's the child?" he asked.
"Rachel has her. Rachel! Rachel!"
No voice replied. Thoroughly alarmed, they called to her again and again, and to the child, but could not rouse them. They were in the deepest darkness.
Presently Rough-and-Ready said, "Hush! we must wait for the light."
They waited for the light, and by the first faint glimmer they saw Rachel and the child lying down peacefully, the woman with the child folded in her arms. Light had come to them before the others!
Rough-and-Ready, who was the first to discover it, turned to his companions, with the tears streaming down his face and beard.
"Comfort her," he said to Joshua, pointing to Minnie.
Joshua put his arm round Minnie and turned her face from where the woman and child lay.
"Poor Rachel! Poor Little Emma!" he said. "Be brave, Minnie, my dear. Do not give way, for my sake."
He knew what words to utter to give her strength to bear the shock, and he made use of his power with a wise compassion.