ort of their gun to reach that place.
However, just as soon as Mr Ross saw the storm approaching he summoned
every available man, and had boats in readiness to begin the search as
soon as it was possible to risk the angry waves which a cyclone of this
description stirs up. For at least three hours they had to wait ere
they could make a start. Then in the still angry waters they shoved out
their boats, and in different directions started on the search.

In the meantime let us again go back to the young people in their
strange place of refuge. Noting the increasing brightness, as the black
clouds were now rapidly rolling away, Rachel suggested that three more
shots be fired. In a few minutes more they were repeated, and soon
after, as the rain had now nearly ceased, the whole party came out from
their gloomy cave retreat. On every side were evidences of the terrific
power of the cyclone. Great trees had been torn up by the roots, while
others had been snapped off, leaving the stumps standing from twenty to
fifty feet high.

Apart from the sad evidences of the storm, everything was soon simply
delightful. In those high latitudes the June evenings are very long.
Here was now one of wondrous beauty. The angry waves were quickly dying
away into pleasant ripples. The sun was setting behind some lovely
clouds of gold and crimson, and the air, purified by the cyclone, seemed
exhilarating in the extreme.

"Keep up your firing, Frank," said Rachel, "for doubtless there are
boats out long ere this, looking for what is left of us."

"Listen!" said Winnie, who, being wonderfully gifted in hearing, had
been the first to detect an answering gun. "One, two, three, four.
Fire again!" she cried. "They have heard, but are uncertain as to the
direction."

Again the three reports of the gun sounded in quick succession, and soon
there was the answer of two guns, which meant, "We hear you now and will
soon be with you."

To Mr Ross's great relief and satisfaction, it was the boat, manned by
four oarsmen, of which he himself had charge that was the first to hear
the firing of Frank's gun. Some of his Indian crew had detected reports
before he had, but nothing would satisfy him until the welcome sound
fell on his own ears.

"Pull, men!" he fairly shouted, "and let us see how many of those loved
ones have survived that storm. If any of them are drowned, you need not
take me home."

Not a man in that boat, white or Indian, n