I have seen some touching scenes in my life but never anything that moved me more than this midnight meeting between the parents and their boy in this deep dark wood.
Mr. Devering stood saying nothing, his arms just wrapped round his son as if he would protect him for all time from a cruel world.
Mrs. Devering was the first to recover herself. She sprang up and came to her husband and child.
"Who has made you suffer like this?" she said sharply. "I want to know."
The boy would not tell her, but her husband said, "I know. I noticed signs of suffering about another child to-night."
"Who was it?" she asked. "Do tell me. I saw nothing."
The Lady Moon was now bathing us in soft and almost warm moonlight, and I could see Mr. Devering's eyebrows contract ever so little. "It was Cassowary," he said in a low voice.
"I assure you she was never more composed and quiet," said Mrs. Devering quickly. "She seemed perfectly happy."
Big Chief said nothing, but he gave his father a glance that meant they thought alike.
"Was it Cassowary that drove you from your home?" asked Mrs. Devering.