a beacon light. He was in water up to his shoulders,
but the current was not strong; he could maintain his footing and hold
himself where he was.

He could only see one star, so he knew the opening through which he
looked must be very small; but upon that one star he feasted his eyes,
and thought it the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

How numb and cold he was! Could he hold out until daylight? Yes, he
would. He would see the sunlight once more. He dared not move, nor even
change his position, for fear lest he should lose sight of the star and
not be able to find it again.

So he stood there, it seemed to him, for hours, until his star began to
fade, and then, though he could not yet see it, he knew that daylight
was coming.

At last the friendly star disappeared entirely, but in its place came a
faint light--such a very faint suspicion of light that he was not sure
it was light. Slowly, very slowly, it grew brighter, until he could see
the outline of the opening far above him, and he knew that he had lived
to see the light of another day. Then Mark prayed, prayed as he had
never dreamed of praying before. He thanked God for once more letting
him see the blessed daylight, and prayed that he might be shown some
means of escape. He prayed for strength to hold out just a little while
longer, and it was given him.

When Frank March was drawn to the surface, and said he had been let
down into a swift current of water, Mr. Elmer buried his face in his
hands, and groaned aloud in the agony of his grief.

"Why did I bring him to this place?" sobbed the stricken man. "To think
that his life should be given for mine. If we had only stayed in the
North my life might have been taken, but his would have been spared. O,
Heavenly Father! what have I done to deserve this blow?"

For some time the others respected his grief, and stood by in silence.
Then Mr. March laid his hand gently on the shoulder of his friend, and
said,

"You are indeed afflicted, but there are others of whom you must think
besides yourself. His mother and sister need you now as they never
needed you before. You must go to them." Turning to Frank, he said, "I
will go home with Mr. Elmer, but I want you to ride with Jan in the
direction you think this stream takes, and see if you can find its
outlet or any other traces of it. There is a bare possibility that we
may recover the body."

So they separated, the two gentlemen riding slowly and sadly hom