After a time, in the woods directly behind where she sat
hoping and fearing and trying to dry her tears, a gun sounded
like an exclamation of hope. Had Aladdin by any incredible
circumstance returned so soon? Mindful of his warning not to
stray from where she was, Margaret stood up and called in a
shrill little voice

"Here I am! Here I am!"

Silence in the woods immediately behind where Margaret stood
hoping and fearing!

"Here I am!" she cried. And it had been piteous to hear, so
small and shrill was the voice.

Presently, though much farther off, sounded the merry yapping
bark of a little dog, and again, but this time like an echo of
itself, the exclamation of hope--hope deferred.

"Here I am! Here--I--am!" called Margaret.

Then there was a long silence--so long that it seemed as if
nothing in the world could have been so long. Margaret sat
down gasping. The sun rose higher, the river ran on, and hope
flew away. And just as hope had gone for good, the merry
yapping of the dog broke out so near that Margaret jumped, and
bang went the gun--like a promise of salvation. Instantly she
was on her feet with her shrill,

"Here I am! Here I am!"