Piper was The Woman's one
anxiety. She was afraid he could not be induced to stop in time for
the children to come in with their chorus, and she had cautioned
Marmaduke to give his old shawl a good jerk and choke him off before it
was too late.

It had been arranged, very prettily, that the Piper was to play until
the train came to a stop, then he was to stop too, and the children
were to burst into "O Canada," and were to sing it with all their
might, standing up in the wagon and waving their flags. While this was
going on Gavin would be getting off the train and was to be welcomed by
the ministers and Dr. McGarry and Mr. Holmes, the special committee
appointed for the purpose. Then the committee was to lead him to the
car where the Grant Girls were sitting, and while he was meeting them,
Marmaduke was to give the signal, and all were to burst into three
cheers, and the boys had promised they would be such cheers as had
never before wakened up the echoes of the swamp.

When Gavin was properly seated, both the choirs, and indeed everybody,
were to join in singing his regimental song, "All the Blue Bonnets are
over the Border."

And when that was finished Mr. Sinclair was to read the address, and
Mr. Wylie and the Baptist minister were to say a few words, and if
Auntie Elspie could make him, Gavin was then to step out upon the
platform and give his reply. And Auntie Elspie had promised to do her
best, but would give no assurance of success.

When this was over, there was to be another patriotic song by the
choirs, then the Piper could have a chance again, and every one was to
climb back into their rigs, and they would all go back home and have
such a supper as nobody would believe until they saw it!

It was really to be a fine welcome home, and Orchard Glen could not
help feeling some regret, that Algonquin's mean habit of hero-snatching
should have prevented the whole town witnessing the splendid scene.

When they all drew up with much noise and dust at Silver Creek
Crossing, the crowd made a great stir in the lonely place, and the
sound of their gay voices echoed far away into the swamp as they
arranged themselves around the tiny platform, and along the green bank
of the stream.

Willie Meek, the one inhabitant of the lonely place, came out of his
tiny habitation with a tattered cloth on a stick and stood ready to
flag the train. And then when every one was ready and waiting, of
course the Martin childre