Bikku Matti did not understand anything of this and did only what Grandfather had told him to, saluted again as straight and serious as could be. This amused the high gentleman still more, and he asked the people who stood near about the parents of the little boy.
The sheriff, who by this time had crept out of the ditch, came hurriedly forward to tell that the little boy was an orphan and lived with his grandfather, an old blind soldier named Hugh.
What was the surprise of all, when the gentleman stepped out of his carriage, took Bikku by the hand and walked with him straight to the little cabin. And what excitement in the little hut! Grandmother could say nothing when the stranger entered, but stood there open-mouthed. Grandfather, because he saw nothing, had more courage and pointed politely in the direction where he knew the bench was.
"God's blessings on you my friends," said the stranger and shook hands with the old people. "It seems to me I recognize you, old comrade," he continued, while he looked searchingly at Grandfather. "Are you not Hugh No. 39 of my old regiment?"
"Yes, Captain," answered Grandfather in great surprise, for he recognized the voice.
"God be praised, that at last I have found you. Do you think I could forget you, who saved my life? You, who carried me on your back across the stream while the bullets sang about your ears, and the enemies were all about? If you have forgotten it, do you think I ever should forget it? After the war was over, I looked for you and inquired for you everywhere, but without success, and at last I thought you were dead. But now I have found you, and now I may repay you a little by looking after you and yours in your old age. And what a fine boy you have!"
The gentleman caught Bikku Matti in his arms, lifted him high up and kissed him so heartily that the hat fell off, the sword rattled and the rest of Grandmother's pins fell out of the coat and the trousers.
"No, no, let me alone," said Bikku. "Now you have made me drop the cap, and Grandfather will be angry."
"Dear sir," said Grandmother, quite ashamed of Bikku, "be so kind as not to mind how the boy talks; he is not used to being with people."
"Don't worry about the boy's talk, he is right in guarding the soldier's cap. Listen, Bikku, do you want to become a soldier like your Grandfather?" said the gentleman.