“And it is due to him that we are here now!” cried Mr. Bell. “We have come to save you!”
A gleam of interest lighted up the dull eyes of the old man. He seemed struggling to recall some long-forgotten facts, and then, as the professor and Mr. Bell went over in brief the story of how they had arrived, Mr. Deering exclaimed:
“It hardly seems possible. Are we to be saved? I did not recognize you, Uriah, when I saw you running toward me.”
“I would have known you anywhere,” said the professor. He had a wonderful memory, or he never could have classified so many strange insects. “But come into the cabin,” urged the scientist. “You are just in time. We were planning how we might rescue all of your party who are yet alive, and we needed to communicate with some members of it.”
“There are only eight left,” was the sad answer. “Five men and three women. But it will seem wonderful to them when I take them word that you are here. Wonderful! Wonderful!”
“How is it that the Indians allowed you to come this far alone?” asked Mr. Bell. “Loftus said they guarded you closely.”
“They do, usually,” answered aged Mr. Deering, “but now they are preparing for the annual flying lizard feast——”
“The flying lizard feast!” interrupted the professor. “Is it possible for me to secure some of those wonderful insects, Amos?”
“Perhaps,” was the answer. “But it will be risky, for they are much venerated by the savages.”