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Jerry Blunt, indeed, had suggested a triumphal arch with WELCOME in letters tall and wide. But that notion was instantly quashed by wiser heads. 'We be thankful to see 'em back, judicially said Northbourne; 'but we ain't a-goin' to make "conquerin' heroes" of such young limbs!
One boy was appointed to each bird, in order to carry out the business of teaching the tune by whistling it incessantly until the air was firmly fixed in those tiny memories, which, if they had not been exactly 'wax to receive, proved 'marble to retain. As the finches grew perfect in their one life-lesson, the Scottish ditty resounded sweetly all over the village of Northbourne.
I never knowed Jerry tell a lie, and you can't say more'n that for a genelman born. B'ys, I'd rather, when my own time comes to be laid by in the churchyard yonder, have it in writin' over me, He never telled a lie, than I'd have anything on arth writ there. 'Well, said Alick reflectively, 'there's one thing I can't make out, and that is, what brought Jerry Blunt back to Northbourne?
Meantime, it looks as if He meant you to bide here, seein' as how in His goodness He has bringed you back to us. It is a year ago exactly since 'The Theodora' sank to the bottom of the blue waters in the bay where she still lies. Time has wrought and brought many changes in Northbourne, as time will. Over at the Vicarage is the greatest change, for the good old parson has gone home to
I tell you it took a few Northbourne men to separate them two, and when 'twas done, I don't forget the sorry sight the unfortunit' man was. There warn't no hospitals nor nothin' in them days, and the doctor he had a tough job to bring the poor furriner to, and patch him up, I tell you! 'And the bear? struck in Geoff. 'Did they do anything to the bear? 'Only shot him dead; nothin' else.
He set his wits to work to puzzle out a way. Without a right arm he was of little or no use in the fishing-boats, which constituted the sole trade of Northbourne. So fishing was out of the question. Now people don't go the length of Franz Josef Land without picking up a few odds and ends of information.
He tapped the dottle out of his pipe, picked up the bundle, and rose grumbling. Then he led the way in the direction of Northbourne. It was a little after three o'clock now, and the day was sultry. Jones, despite his other troubles, was vastly interested in his companion. The height of Rochester's position had never appeared truly till shown him by the farmer and this tramp. They knew him.
Meantime, while all Northbourne, in its genuine affection for Miss Theedory, hung expectantly on the issues of life or death for who could say which it might be? Jerry Blunt was quietly making his preparations for pursuing his new calling of bird-trainer.
But dashing his hand across his sleepy eyes, Ned hastily told himself there must be no harking back, no thinking of what granny or anybody else at Northbourne would say or do. It must be good-bye, for ever, to the old life. The motion of the van, the rest after the long tramp, alike caused the country-bred boy to nod sleepily as he clung to his perch. Presently, he was back again in Northbourne.
Again and again had the half-distracted father asked himself the maddening question as he paced the busy Docks. He would return then to Northbourne, where his other beloved child lay in jeopardy of her young life.
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