Then as the first golden rays of light shot across the sky and the birds burst forth into song, Jack felt a certain sense of relief. The words which he had heard Aunt Nancy speak so often came to his mind, and he repeated over and over again, understanding the meaning better than ever before,—
"He doeth all things well."
It was but a little past eight o'clock when he turned the corner which led to Farmer Pratt's house, and the first person he saw was none other than Master Tom.
"Hello! Where'd you come from?" that young gentleman cried in surprise.
"Down the road a bit."
"Why didn't you git back before? Father's been lookin' almost everywhere for you an' the baby."
"Is he still huntin'?"
"No, he gave it up as a bad job a good while ago, for there's no chance of gettin' the reward now."
"The reward?" Jack asked in surprise.
"Yes; you see the baby's mother went away from Portland, an' father don't allow there's anybody in town who cares very much about it after so long a time."