"A fire, down here in the gorge!" gasped Bob Somers. "It doesn't seem possible."
"A fire!" echoed Sam, in amazement.
"By all that's wonderful!" murmured the "poet."
Yes—flames were growing larger, curling and twisting; a ruddy light was spreading around—it meant that they were not alone in the terrible gorge.
The restoration from despair to hope sent such a wave of thankfulness into the minds of each that they felt like dancing with joy. Then their united voices rose in a volume of sound which echoed and reëchoed throughout the narrow confines with startling clearness.
They paused, and waited anxiously.
For an instant, there was no response. Then, "Hello, hello! Who are you?" came a voice, the tones of which seemed to indicate the greatest amazement.
Saved—saved! What a blessed thought!
"Hurrah!" yelled Bob.
"Who are you?" repeated the speaker across the river.