When they all sat down to breakfast, Big McTavish bowed his head and asked God’s blessing on his bounty in these words:
“We thank thee for feedin’ us, O God. We thank thee for thy many mercies, and we thank thee greatly for the sunshine after the darkness.”
And Granny from her end of the table added a fervent “Amen.”
After breakfast the Colonel drew Big McTavish aside and held a whispered controversy with him. Then he turned to the “little ma,” and, holding her hand in both of his, said:
“There is no reward that earth can give you great enough for what you and yours have done for me and mine, but the great reward awaits you all. I have received a great and wonderous blessing,” stroking the brown curls of the tall girl beside him, “ah, so great a blessing! I am going now, but I will come back soon, very soon, again.”
He turned, his eyes blinking, and glanced about the room at the others.
“God bless you all,” he said heartily, and strode outside, followed by Big McTavish and Boy.
Coming up the path was a tired, dripping horse, bestrode by a weary, dripping rider.
“Dick,” murmured the Colonel. “Of course, I might have known that he would come searching for me.
“Why, lad,” he called, “you’re a bigger ninny than I thought you. You’re half drowned.”