Francis, somewhat alarmed at his position,
had his eyes cast down, and had not yet seen us. When the king was
within twenty yards of us, they stopped, and all the savages prostrated
themselves before him; we alone remained standing. Then Francis saw us,
and uttered a piercing cry, calling out, "Papa! dear brothers!" He
struggled to quit the shoulders of his bearers, but they held him too
firmly. It was impossible to restrain ourselves longer; we all cried
out, and mingled our tears and lamentations. I said to the good
missionary,--a little too harshly, perhaps,--"Ah! if you were a father!"
"I am," said he, "the father of all this flock, and your children are
mine; I am answerable for all. Command your sons to be silent; request
the child to be composed, and leave the rest to me."
I immediately took advantage of the permission to speak. "Dear Francis,"
said I, holding out my arms, "we are come to seek you and your mother;
after all our dangers, we shall soon meet again, to part no more. But be
composed, my child, and do not risk the happiness of that moment by any
impatience. Trust in God, and in this good friend that He has given us,
and who has restored to me the treasures without which I could not
live." We then waved our hands to him, and he remained still, but wept
quietly, murmuring our names: "Papa, Fritz, Ernest,--tell me about
mamma," said he, at last, in an inquiring tone.
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