ng to take into vision
the whole surface of the river, at a glance.

"It's all right! He's coming up _plump_!" shouted Ezra, from his boat,
as he rowed with speed for the spot where a brass tube was rising,
sun-burnished, from the Connecticut.

Presently the brass head, with its very small windows, emerged, even
the oaken sides were rising,--and Mr. Bushnell was greeting the
returning consciousness of his wife with the words:

"It's all right, mother. David is safe."

"Don't let him know," were the first words she spoke, "that his own
mother was so faithless as to doubt!"

And now, paddle, paddle, toward the river-bank came the Turtle, David
Bushnell's head rising out of its shell, proud confidence shining
forth from his eyes, as feet and hands busied themselves in navigating
the boat that had lived for months in his brain, and now was living,
in very substance, under his control.

As he neared the bank a shout of acclamation greeted him.

He reached the island, was fairly dragged forth from his seat, and
carried up to the spot where his mother sat, trying to overcome every
trace of past doubt and fear.

"Now," said Dr. Gale, "let us give thanks unto Him who hath given
this youth understanding to do this great work."

With bared heads and devout hearts the thanksgiving went upward, and
thereafter a perfect shower of questions pelted David Bushnell
concerning his device to blow up ships: _how_ he came to think of it
at all--_where_ he got this idea and that as to its construction--to
all of which he simply said:

"_You'll find your answer in the prayer you've just offered!_"

"But," said practical Mr. Bushnell, "the Lord did not send you money
to buy oak and iron and brass, did he?"

"Yes," returned David, "by the hand of my good friend, Dr. Gale. To
him belongs half the victory."

"Pshaw! pshaw!" impatiently uttered the doctor. "I tell you it is _no
such thing_! I only advanced My Lady here," turning to Madam Bushnell,
"a little money, on her promise to pay me at some future time. I'm
mightily ashamed _now_ that I took the promise at all. Madam Bushnell,
I'll never take a penny of it back again, _never_, as long as I live.
I _will_ have a little of the credit of this achievement, and no one
shall hinder me."

"How is that, mother?" questioned Mr. Bushnell. "_You_ borrow money
and not tell me!" and David and Ezra looked at her.

"I--I--" stammered forth the woman, "I only _guessed_ that David was
doin