They were in the open air! Scorched, singed, blackened, choked,
breathless, but safe!
Here they paused a moment to recover breath, and then Ishmael said: "We must run around to the front and let them know that we are out!" The
two boys that he had saved obeyed him as though he had been their
master.
Extreme peril throws down all false conventional barriers and reduces
and elevates all to their proper level. In this supreme moment Ishmael
instinctively commanded, and they mechanically obeyed.
They hurried around to the front. Here, as soon as they were seen and
recognized, a general shout of joy and thanksgiving greeted them.
Ishmael found himself clasped in the arms of his friend, the professor,
whose tears rained down upon him as he cried: "Oh, my boy! my boy! my brave, noble boy! there is not your like upon
this earth! no, there is not! I would kneel down and kiss your feet! I
would! There isn't a prince in this world like you! there isn't,
Ishmael! there isn't! Any king on this earth might be proud of you for
his son and heir, my great-hearted boy!" And the professor bowed his
head over Ishmael and sobbed for joy and gratitude and admiration.
"Was it really so well done, professor?" asked Ishmael simply.
"Well done, my boy? Oh, but my heart is full! Was it well done? Ah! my
boy, you will never know how well done, until the day when the Lord
shall judge the quick and the dead!"
"Ah, if your poor young mother were living to see her boy now!" cried the
professor, with emotion.
"Don't you suppose mother does live, and does see me, professor? I do,"
answered Ishmael, in a sweet, grave tone that sounded like Nora's own
voice.
"Yes, I do! I believe she does live and watch over you, my boy."
Meanwhile Mrs. Middleton, who had been engaged in receiving and
rejoicing over the two rescued youths, and soothing and composing their
agitated spirits, now came forward to speak to Ishmael.
"My boy," she said, in a voice shaking with emotion, "my brave, good
boy! I cannot thank you in set words; they would be too poor and weak to
tell you what I feel, what we must all ever feel towards you, for what
you have done to-night. But we will find some better means to prove how
much we thank, how highly we esteem you."
Ishmael held down his head, and blushed as deeply as if he had been
detected in some mean act and reproached for it.
"You should look up and reply to the madam!" whispered the professor.
Ishmael raised his head and answered: "My lady, I'm glad the young gentlemen are saved and you are pleased.
But I do not wish to have more credit than I have a right to; for I feel
very sure George Washington wouldn't."