"Yes, it is yours, my boy, my noble boy! I give it to you once more; not as any sort of a reward; but simply because I think it would be a sin to deprive you of that which is yours by a sacred right. Keep it, and make its history still your study, and its heroes still your models," said Mr. Middleton, with emotion.
Ishmael was trembling with joy! His delight at recovering his lost treasure was even greater than his joy at first possessing it had been. He tried to thank the donor; but his gratitude was too intense to find utterance in words.
"There, there, I know it all as well as if you had expressed it with the eloquence of Cicero, my boy," said Mr. Middleton.
"Uncle, you are such a good old gander that I would hug and kiss you if I could do so without climbing over aunt," said Claudia.
"Mr. Middleton, do let us get along a little faster! or we shall not reach home until dark," said the lady.
"My good, little old wife, it will not be dark this night. The moon is rising, and between the moon above and the snow beneath, we shall have it as light as day all night. However, here goes!" And Mr. Middleton touched up his horse and they flew as before the wind.
It was a glorious ride through a glorious scene! The setting sun was kindling all the western sky into a dazzling effulgence, and sending long golden lines of light through the interstices of the forest on one hand, and the rising moon was flooding the eastern heavens with a silvery radiance on the other. The sleigh flew as if drawn by winged horses.
"Isn't it grand, Ishmael?" inquired Claudia.
"Oh, yes, indeed, miss!" responded the boy, with fervor.
In twenty minutes they had reached the turnpike road from which started the little narrow foot-path leading through the forest to the hut.