At last! There they stood, those two, who had of late been in such deep
and dark despair. They stood there, drawing deep breaths of that glad
upper air, and looked around. The moon shone from on high, throwing its
lustre over the scene, and pouring upon the sea a silver flood. Joy and
gratitude overwhelmed them, and with one common impulse they fell upon
their kne’es, and gave thanks to that Merciful One who had drawn them up
“out of a horrible pit,” and restored them to the light of life.
But their excitement and their labor had utterly exhausted them in
mind and body. They were terribly fatigued. To row back to Chester was
impossible. They therefore went off at once to the little hut, and
here, flinging themselves upon the floor, they soon sank into a profound
slumber.
Meanwhile the boys, with the landlord, and Roach, had searched about the
island, until the minds of all were, filled with the deepest anxiety.
The hut still remained, and into this, not expecting to find anything,
yet still anxious to search everywhere, they all went. There was an
outer room full of ropes and tools, passing through which they came to
an inner room.
Out of a profound slumber Bart and Pat were abruptly roused, and opened
their eyes to find themselves surrounded by their four companions,
perfectly frantic with excitement and joy, together with two strangers,
the landlord and the man who had shown them the way, which two exhibited
a most profound emotion. After their first bewilderment, Bart and Pat
found it easy to guess at the meaning of this scene, and the memories
which they had of their terrible adventure fully justified in their eyes
the wild joy of their friends. It was a comfort to them to perceive that
they had thus been promptly followed, for they saw that had they not
been able to get out of the hole, they would have been rescued by these
loving hands before all was lost.
Long explanations were deferred for the present. Bart and Pat were in a
state of starvation, and their friends had forgotten to bring any food.
But Chester was not far away. The wind was fair, and before very long
they were all seated at the inn table, where the two lost ones satisfied
their ravenous appetites, and the other boys made a second breakfast,
which was more satisfactory than the first had been.
After which Bart and Pat told the whole story minutely, answering every
question.