The sky was overcast now , and only brief glimpses of the moon were seen , heat-lightening darted out of the dark clouds now and then , and a faint far-off rumble as of thunder told that a summer-storm was brewing . `` O my Robby ! my Robby ! '' mourned poor Mrs. Jo , wandering up and down like a pale ghost , while Dan kept beside her like a faithful fire-fly . `` What shall I say to Nan 's father if she comes to harm ? Why did I ever trust my darling so far away ? Fritz , do you hear any thing ? '' and when a mournful , `` No '' came back , she wrung her hands so despairingly that Dan sprung down from Toby 's back , tied the bridle to the bars , and said , in his decided way , `` They may have gone down the spring I 'm going to look . '' He was over the wall and away so fast that she could hardly follow him ; but when she reached the spot , he lowered the lantern and showed her with joy the marks of little feet in the soft ground about the spring . She fell down on her knees to examine the tracks , and then sprung up , saying eagerly , `` Yes ; that is the mark of my Robby 's little boots ! Come this way , they must have gone on . '' Such a weary search ! But now some inexplicable instinct seemed to lead the anxious mother , for presently Dan uttered a cry , and caught up a little shining object lying in the path . It was the cover of the new tin pail , dropped in the first alarm of being lost . Mrs. Jo hugged and kissed it as if it were a living thing ; and when Dan was about to utter a glad shout to bring the others to the spot , she stopped him , saying , as she hurried on , `` No , let me find them ; I let Rob go , and I want to give him back to his father all myself . '' A little farther on Nan 's hat appeared , and after passing the place more than once , they came at last upon the babes in the wood , both sound asleep . Dan never forgot the little picture on which the light of his lantern shone that night . He thought Mrs. Jo would cry out , but she only whispered , `` Hush ! '' as she softly lifted away the apron , and saw the little ruddy face below . The berry-stained lips were half-open as the breath came and went , the yellow hair lay damp on the hot forehead , and both the chubby hands held fast the little pail still full .
The sight of the childish harvest , treasured through all the troubles of that night for her , seemed to touch Mrs. XXXXX to the heart , for suddenly she gathered up her boy , and began to cry over him , so tenderly , yet so heartily , that he woke up , and at first seemed bewildered .
Dan Fritz Jo Nan Rob Robby Toby first night summer-storm