A groan went up,—­“They will finish what the crickets have left.”

He had risen to his feet, looking intently.  Then he gave an exultant shout.

“No!  No!—­they are eating only the crickets!—­the white birds are devouring the black pests; the hosts of heaven and hell have met, and the powers of light have triumphed once more over darkness! Pray—­pray now with all your hearts in thanksgiving for this mercy!”

And again they knelt, many with streaming eyes, while he led them in a prayer of gratitude for this wondrous miracle.

All day long the white birds fed upon the crickets, and when they left at night the harvest had been saved.  Thus had Heaven vouchsafed a second miracle to the Lute of the Holy Ghost.  It is small wonder then if his views of the esteem in which he was held by that power were now greatly enlarged.

In August, thanks to the Heaven-sent gulls, they were able to celebrate with a feast their first “Harvest Home.”  In the centre of the big stockade a bowery was built, and under its shade tables were spread and richly laden with the first fruits their labours had won from the desert,—­white bread and golden butter, green corn, watermelons, and many varieties of vegetables.  Hoisted on poles for exhibition were immense sheaves of wheat, rye, barley, and oats, coaxed from the arid level with the water they had cunningly spread upon it.

There were prayers and public thanksgiving, songs and speeches and dancing.  It was the flush of their first triumph over the desert.  Until nightfall the festival lasted, and at its close Elder Rae stood up to address them on the subject of their past trials and present blessings.  The silence was instant, and the faces were all turned eagerly upon him, for it was beginning to be suspected that he had more than even priestly power.

“To-day,” he said, “the favour and blessing of God have been manifest upon us.  But let us not forget our debts and duties in this feasting of the flesh.  Afflictions are necessary to humble and prove us, and we shall have them as often as they are needed.  Oh, never doubt it!  I have, indeed, but one fear concerning this people in the valleys of the mountains—­but one trembling fear in the nerves of my spirit—­and that is lest we do not live the religion we profess.  If we will only cleave to that faith in our practise, I tell you we are at the defiance of all hell.  But if we transgress the law God has given us, and trample His mercies, blessings, and ordinances under our feet, treating them with the indifference I have thought some occasionally do, not realising their sins, I tell you that in consequence we shall be overcome, and the Lord will let us be again smitten and scattered.  Take it to heart.  May the God of heaven fill you with the Holy Ghost and give you light and joy in His Kingdom.”

When he was done many pressed forward to take his hand, the young and the old, for they had both learned to reverence him.