They called out, as was their custom, “Tirra, Tirra, Tirra, Tirra La!” and then stood listening.
“Tirra, Tirra, Tirra, Tirra La!” they heard in reply.
“That’s not an echo!” cried the boy; “call again!”
They called again, all together, very loud: “Tirra, Tirra, Tirra, Tirra La!”
The answer came back in a clear, strong voice, and much nearer than before.
Then a crashing of branches was heard, and a stout man burst through.
At first he could not speak, from astonishment. But at last he caught the two children in his arms, kissed them, hugged them, wept over them, and called them his precious, precious children.
And Rosebud, seeing that they both were crying for joy, herself stepped forward and told their story.