we can to make
it short in passing and prevent you from regretting the necessity of
tarrying with us for so much longer time than you had intended," Mr.
Dinsmore answered in a cheery tone.

"Your great kindness is laying me under lasting obligations, Mr.
Dinsmore," the captain responded, with glistening eyes, "obligations which
I shall never, I fear, have an opportunity to repay."

"My dear sir, I am truly thankful to have it in my power to do what can be
done to alleviate your sufferings and restore the health and vigor you so
nobly sacrificed for another. Beside, what Christian can recall the
Master's assurance that He will consider any kindness done to any follower
of His as done to Himself, and not rejoice in the opportunity to be of
service to a fellow-disciple, be it man, woman, or child?"

"Yes, And the King shall answer and say unto them, 'Verily I say unto you,
inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye
have done it unto me.'"

"Ah, captain, don't talk of obligation to one who has a recompense such as
that in view!" Mr. Dinsmore said, a smile on his lip, a glad light in his
eye.

The captain stretched out his hand and grasped that of his host. "What
cause for gratitude that I have fallen into the care of those who can
appreciate and act from such motives!" he exclaimed with emotion.

"You are the hero of the hour, my friend," Mr. Dinsmore remarked after a
short silence. "I wish you could have seen the faces of my wife, daughter,
and granddaughter when they heard of the noble, unselfish, and courageous
deed which was the cause of your sore injuries."

"Don't mention it!" exclaimed the captain, a manly flush suffusing his
face; "who could stand by and see a fellow-creature perish without so much
as stretching out a helping hand?"

In the weeks that followed Captain Raymond won golden opinions from those
with whom he sojourned, showing himself as capable of the courage of
endurance as of that more ordinary kind that incites to deeds of daring;
he was always patient and cheerful, and sufficiently at leisure from
himself and his own troubles to show a keen interest in those about him.

After the first week he was able to take possession of an invalid-chair,
which was then wheeled into the room where the family were wont to gather
for the free and unconstrained enjoyment of each other's society.

They made him one of themselves, and he found it a rare treat to be among
them