"That the boy lost the computation of time."
"And in this manner he endeavored to indicate the date, therefore this kite may have been sent up not very long ago."
"If that is so, they may not be very far from here."
The feverish, broken conversation lasted for a while, after which both began to scrutinize the document and discuss every word inscribed upon it. The thing appeared, however, so improbable that if it were not for the fact that this occurred in a region in which there were no Europeans at all—about three hundred and seventy-five miles from the nearest coast—the doctor and the captain would have assumed that it was an ill-timed joke, which had been perpetrated by some European children who had read the newspapers describing the abduction, or by wards of missions. But it was difficult not to believe their eyes; they had the kite in hand and the little rubbed inscriptions were plainly in black before them.
Nevertheless, there were many things which they could not comprehend. Where did the children get the paper for the kite? If it had been furnished to them by a caravan, then they would have joined it and would not have appealed for help. For what reason did the boy not attempt to fly with his little companion to Abyssinia? Why did the dervishes send them east of the Nile into an unknown region? In what manner did they succeed in escaping from the hands of the guards? Where did they hide? By what miracle through long months of journey did they not die from starvation, or become the prey of wild animals? Why were they not killed by savages? To all these questions there was no reply.
"I do not understand it, I do not understand it," repeated Doctor
Clary; "this is perhaps a miracle of God."
"Undoubtedly," the captain answered.
After which he added:
"But that boy! For that, of course, was his work."
"And he did not abandon the little one. May the blessings of God flow upon his head!"