What did it contain?
The living or the dead?
The living certainly! as Marston whispered to those around him; otherwise how could they have ever run up that flag?
The boats approached in perfect silence, all hearts throbbing with the intensity of newly awakened hope, all eyes eagerly watching for some sign to confirm it.

No part of the windows appeared over the water, but the trap hole had been thrown open, and through it came the pole that bore the American flag.

Marston made for the trap hole and, as it was only a few feet above the surface, he had no difficulty in looking in.
At that moment, a joyful shout of triumph rose from the interior, and the whole boat's crew heard a dry drawling voice with a nasal twang exclaiming: "Queen! How is that for high ?" It was instantly answered by another voice, shriller, louder, quicker, more joyous and triumphant in tone, but slightly tinged with a foreign accent: "King! My brave Mac! How is that for high ?" The deep, clear, calm voice that spoke next thrilled the listeners outside with an emotion that we shall not attempt to portray.

Except that their ears could detect in it the faintest possible emotion of triumph, it was in all respects as cool, resolute, and self-possessed as ever: "Ace! Dear friends, how is that for high ?" They were quietly enjoying a little game of High-Low-Jack! [Illustration: HOW IS THAT FOR HIGH ?] How they must have been startled by the wild cheers that suddenly rang around their ocean-prison! How madly were these cheers re-echoed from the decks of the _Susquehanna_! Who can describe the welcome that greeted these long lost, long beloved, long despaired of Sons of Earth, now so suddenly and unexpectedly rescued from destruction, and restored once more to the wonderstricken eyes of admiring humanity?
Who can describe the scenes of joy and exuberant happiness, and deep felt gratitude, and roaring rollicking merriment, that were witnessed on board the steamer that night and during the next three days! As for Marston, it need hardly be said that he was simply ecstatic, but it may interest both the psychologist and the philologist to learn that the expression _How is that for high ?_ struck him at once as with a kind of frenzy.

It became immediately such a favorite tongue morsel of his that ever since he has been employing it on all occasions, appropriate or otherwise.