When the people below saw that James Dingle waved his stick triumphantly,--as he did before he left the nest,--and had disappeared for some time, though the eagles hadn't harmed him, they reminded one another of the way to the crag over the hills, and thought he was trying to find it. And when they asked Malachi Roe, he made a speech again,--that is, a speech for the likes of such a one as him:--says he, “I've no doubt but he is; he'd be a fool if he didn't; for look at the eagles above, between this and the nest.” “True,” says Mick Maguire; “that didn't occur to us, whin he wint up. Any how, he might have killed them both,--and then there'd be no danger in letting down the baby,--he might have done that, if he'd taken my gun. And I'm thinking that Bat Boroo's stick--” “What's your opinion, Malachi?” said Father Killala, interrupting Mick;--and it's the only fault he has: for he'd never hear one of my stories half through, without asking two or three hundred questions; and then, may be, he'd go off in the middle of it. But he's a fine man, and that's his only fault, or, I'd rather say, it's a way he has that's not pleasant to some people, though Mick didn't mind it. “What's your opinion, Malachi?” says Father Killala; “do you think James Dingle will find his way back?” “With the blessing of Providence, I've no doubt of it,” replied Malachi;--“no one ever came back from it yet, it's true; but there never was such a man as James Dingle got into the nest before.” “He knows the country as well as any one here, I suppose,” observed the Priest. “Better, Father Killala,” said Malachi. With this, most of the people came back, bringing poor Norah with them; and she was comforted in a great degree. Still she'd terrible fears, and a multitude of bad fancies; but every one strove to console her: those who wouldn't spake to her before, wept for her now; and Norah Cavanagh was grateful to them for it. A few watched the crag; but most of the people, as I said, came away: and they might be seen hanging together in knots about the place, doing nothing the rest of the morning but watch in hopes of seeing James Dingle appear. Some wint up among the hills to scout for him; though that wasn't much use, for nobody knew which way he'd come back. Hours and hours passed on, but still no news of James Dingle! And his aunt, who heard of what had been done, was almost frantic at the foot of the hill, beyond The Beg. It was long she waited, and often she looked up the crags, but still there was no sign of her nephew:--it was past mid-day, and all the people got round her, and every body began to despair but Malachi. At last two men was seen coming down from above; and who should they be, as you'll guess, but James Dingle and small Misther Millet! Young Dingle had Norah Cavanagh's child in his arms, and Millet was helping himself on as well as he could by Bat Boroo's big stick.