“You see,” he went on, “they got a good start of us and should have reached the high ground afore the water hit.”
“That’s so,” agreed Jack, “and I can see now that the water did not rise so very high. It was its speed and anger that made it terrible.”
“Wonder how far that blamed old tree carried us,” said Pete, rather anxiously. “It’s just curred to me that if we don’t connect with the stock and some grub pretty quick, we’ll be in a bad fix.”
He gazed about him as he spoke. On every side stretched monotonous plains covered with the same gray-green brush as the savannah amidst which they had camped the night before. But the question in Pete’s mind was whether or not it was the same plain or another altogether on which they stood.
But fortunately for them, for they were not in the mood or condition to stand hardship long, they were not destined to remain long in doubt as to the whereabouts of their companions. While they were gazing anxiously into the distance Jack’s keen eye suddenly detected a sharp flash off to the eastward. It was as if the sun had glinted for an instant on a bit of sharply cut diamond. The flash was as bright as a sudden ray of fire. The next instant it was seen no more. But a second later it flashed up again. This time the glitter was to be seen for a longer interval.
“What on airth is it?” gasped Pete, to whom Jack had indicated the phenomenon.
“Wait one moment and maybe I can tell you if it is what I hope,” cried Jack in an excited tone. With burning eyes he watched the distant point of light flashing and twinkling like a vanishing and reappearing star.
“Hooray!” he cried suddenly, “it’s all right! It’s Ralph and the rest and they are all safe. But they don’t know yet where we are.”
Pete gazed at the boy as if he suspected that the stress of the night might have turned his mind.