The rain was yet falling in torrents: but the electrical disturbance had ceased entirely.
That something terrible had occurred all knew; but what it was no one could say.
When Jake implored some one to aid him the second time, Poyor cried:
"Let each remain motionless. I will find the engineer. The earth has opened here, and I am on the brink of a chasm."
This order was obeyed, and the boys knew by the sound of the Indian's voice that he was making his way toward Jake.
At the end of ten minutes he shouted:
"There has been no harm done here. We will come to you."
The boys spoke from time to time to guide him, regardless of the fact that they might also be calling the enemy, and after what seemed to be a very long while the party were re-united at the spot where Neal was, as he had said, nearly buried in the sand.