A wild hope had come into her heart.
“They’re found!” he forced out breath enough to say.
“O Sandy, alive or—or”—
She could not finish the question; the room seemed whirling round her; she grasped at the chair for support.
“Alive!” he shouted. “Alive, an’ a-goin’ to live!”
He started forward, and caught the woman as she fell. The shock of joy had been too sudden and too great, and for a time nature gave way before it.
But it was indeed true. When the men, working at the face of the tunnel, caught the sound of responsive tappings, they labored with redoubled energy, if such a thing could be, and, after another night of most gigantic effort, they broke through into the prison-house, to find both boys unconscious indeed, but alive, alive.
Medical aid was at hand, and though for a time the spirit of Bennie seemed fain to leave his wasted body, it took a firmer hold at last, and it was known that he would live.
In triumphant procession, they bore the rescued, still unconscious, boys in tender haste to their mother’s house; and those who ran before shouted, “Found! found!” and those who followed after cried, “Alive! alive!”