Chapter 12 Summary

At Hawk's Hill farm, Coral stands outside, frozen to see John and her father riding up with Ben. Suddenly she recovers and begins screaming for her mother. "It's Ben mama, they found him! It's Ben and he's alive!" Coral races to the riders with Esther and Beth on her heels. Esther, murmuring, reaches up to take Ben from John, but the tot only clings harder to his big brother.

Still holding Ben, John dismounts and takes him into the house. The child is filthy and skeletal. His clothes are little more than rags, and he's covered with scratches. Ben's eyes roam the room as if looking for escape. John carries the boy into the kitchen, where he smells the familiar aromas of spices, bread baking and meat roasting. Suddenly Ben begins crying and calling "Mama." Esther holds her son. Finally, William MacDonald gives...