her eager eyes devoured the contents of the tiny paper, than she
fell to sobbing hysterically; but every one could see that it was joy
and not grief that had caused this flow of tears from an overcharged
heart.

She started toward McGee, holding out the bit of thin paper
appealingly. McGee had been observing these several happenings with
the same dark scowl on his brow; but he seemed to understand that news
had come from the child who was so dear to him on account of her
infirmity.

"Give hit tuh Daddy, an' let hin read hit!" he spoke up, as though even
in that supreme moment something of the old doubt concerning his family
remained.

Gladly did the woman turn to the shambling old man who came forward
again. And as he bent over the tiny scrap of paper, as though
endeavoring to make out what the writing on it meant, every sound
ceased until the silence of death seemed to hover over that scene.

"Read hit out loud, Daddy!" commanded McGee, himself hardly able to
restrain his own impatience.

"Operation a complete success! Child will soon see as well as any one!
Shall bring her home myself tomorrow, and restore her to a mother's
arms.

"DOCTOR GIDEON LANCING!"

Hardly had the last word been uttered than it seemed as though a
tempest had suddenly descended upon that quiet little settlement in the
midst of the cypress swamps. Every throat joined in the terrific shout
that burst forth. Women threw their arms around one another; while
rough men went about shaking hands, and wiping suspicious moisture from
their sun-burned cheeks.

Phil and Larry whooped with the rest.

"It's all right, Larry!" cried the former, as he wrung his chum's hand
with the vehemence of enthusiastic youth. "That's the last straw that
breaks the camel's back! Even a McGee can't hold out against that
evidence of friendship! Hurrah for my dad; and hurrah for us! But I
say, Larry, it's lucky that poor little pigeon found its way home when
it did, or we might have been turned into birds ourselves."

Even Larry could afford to laugh now at the heretofore gruesome
outlook. As for Tony, he acted like one possessed; for he ran from his
mother to his new chums, and back again; still gripping the lifeless
form of the little winged messenger, as though he hardly knew what he
was doing.

McGee had gone over to his wife, and taken her in his arms. The
glorious news from above had done more to break down his iron nature
than all other thi