of us." "I remember it," said Eric, "and will remain and be one of
you, and let poor Wolf also be one." And so they entered the cottage,
and all sat down round an open window which looked out upon the
beautiful lake with its wooded islands, and surrounded by the noble
forest, above which rose the giant peaks and precipices. The water was
calm as glass, and reflected every brilliant colour from rock and tree,
and, most of all, from the golden clouds, which already began to gather
in the west. Darkeye read from the Good Book of one who had left his
father's house, and went to a far country, where he would fain have
satisfied his hunger from the husks which the swine did eat, and could
not, but who at last returned home after having suffered from his
disobedience. When he closed the book, all stood up and sung these words
with sweet and happy voices:--

"Father! from Thy throne above,
Bless our lowly home below!
Jesus, Shepherd! in Thy love,
Guard Thy flock from every foe.

"Thine we are! for Thou hast made us;
Thine, for we're redeem'd by Thee;
Thine, for Thou hast ever led us,
Thine, we evermore shall be!

"May we love Thee, may we fear Thee,
May Thy will, not ours, be done,
Never leave us till we're near Thee
In the Home where all are one!"

Then they knelt down, and Darkeye spoke to God in name of them all,
thanking Him for His goodness, and telling Him their wants. When they
rose from their knees, the gold thread shone brilliantly, and, like a
beam of light, passed out at the door in the direction of the ferry.
During the singing of the verses, Wolf seemed for the first time quite
overcome. He bent his head, and covered his face with his hands. He then
said, in a low voice, when the short service was over, and as if
speaking to himself, while all were silent listening to him, "I had a
dream. Long, long ago. A carriage--a lady. She was on her knees, with
her hands clasped, and speaking to the sky. She had hold of me. Ralph
was there and the robbers. I forget the rest." He rose and looked out of
the window, gazing vacantly. "What can he mean?" asked Eric aside to
Darkeye, who was looking tenderly on Wolf. "Ah! who knows, poor boy!
Singing always touches the heart of these wanderers. Perhaps--yes--it
may be," he said, so that Eric alone could hear him, "that he has been
taken when a child by Ralph from some rich traveller, and perhaps his
mothe