That is Mother and Uncle Martin , but who can the other man be ? wondered Mary Margaret . When she reached the cottage her mother and Uncle Martin were reading her note , and Nellie , just untied from the chair where she had been found fast asleep , was in the arms of a great , big , brown , bewhiskered man . Mary Margaret just gave one look at the man . Then she flew across the room with a cry of delight . `` Father ! '' For ten minutes not one intelligible word was said , what with laughing and crying and kissing . Mary Margaret was the first to recover herself and say briskly , `` Now , do explain , somebody . Tell me how it all happened . '' `` Martin and I got back to Harbour Head too late last night to cross over , '' said her mother . `` It would have been madness to try to cross in the storm , although I was nearly wild thinking of you two children . It 's well I did n't know the whole truth or I 'd have been simply frantic . We stayed at the Head all night , and first thing this morning came your father . '' `` We came in last night , '' said Captain Campbell , `` and it was pitch dark , not a light to be seen and beginning to snow . We did n't know where we were and I was terribly worried , when all at once the Big Dipper light I 'd been looking for so vainly flashed out , and everything was all right in a moment . But , Mary Margaret , if that light had n't appeared , we 'd never have got in past the reefs . You 've saved your father 's ship and all the lives in her , my brave little girl . '' `` Oh ! '' Mary Margaret drew a long breath and her eyes were starry with tears of happiness . `` Oh , I 'm so thankful I went over .
And I had to tie XXXXX in her chair , Mother , there was no other way .
Campbell Father Margaret Martin Mother Nellie first minutes night right