“But you see I didn’t know where you were all this time, only that it was somewhere down South.  It was only the other day that, just by some luck, I happened to be hunting a lost trap, when I found something that told us where you lived,” explained Thad, fumbling in his pocket.

“And,” went on Maurice, taking up the story where his chum faltered, “as we were only a short distance up the river from Morehead, we made up our minds that we must meet with Bunny.”

“And give her this,” with which words Thad fished out the packet and thrust it hurriedly into the woman’s hands.

“Oh, what is it?” she asked, beginning to tremble, not with fear, but delicious eagerness and anticipation.

“Something your dad wanted to get to you.  He tried to tell me about it just when he was took, but I couldn’t understand him.  It was lyin’ in a hole back of the lining of the boat, and just where he kept the few muskrat traps he owned,” finished Thad.

Mrs. Stormway began to undo the string, though her hands trembled so she could hardly make much progress.  Finally George himself had to take possession and cut the cord with a knife.

When he opened the little rusty covered diary and those beautiful yellowback government gold notes fluttered to the ground there was a tense silence.  Both George and his wife could not believe their eyes.  Perhaps, to tell the truth, they had never before seen even one yellowback note, and hardly understood what they were.

“There’s just three hundred and thirty dollars, all in good gold bills issued by the United States Government.  And he meant it for you, ma’am, ’cause he says so in his diary.  I reckon he wanted to fetch it down when he came in the winter; but he never made the ripple.”

While Thad was explaining in this manner George and Maurice were picking up the precious bills.  The man was so excited he could hardly speak; but when he stood there with the little book in his hand, he looked at his wife and she at him.  Then they rushed into each others’ arms, while the boys winked hard to keep the tears from flowing.  It was an affecting sight, indeed.

“Now we can get away from here.  Now we can go on a farm in the uplands, where you will get strong and well, George.  Oh, I am so happy I hardly know what to do!  And to think that father saved all this money for me!  And that you brought it to us, just when it looked so dark that even I was beginning to be afraid!”

Before Thad knew what she meant to do George’s wife was kissing him, and George shaking his hand furiously.  Maurice came in for a second edition of the grateful couple’s thanksgiving; but on the whole both boys stood the ordeal fairly well.

“Come in and rest yourselves, my dear boys.  You have brought me blessed news today, and I shall never forget it; never.  You must stay over night with us, because there is so much I want to know about him.  We haven’t much to offer you in the way of food, but George here can borrow Captain Peek’s mule and go to the store for things.”