THERE WAS GREAT EXCITEMENT as the two boys reached Campbell River. They came up the slipway from the water taxi to find Mr. Harris waiting for them. Donald threw himself at his father.
“Dad, oh, Dad! We got them, didn’t we? And the ‘Chinook’ is safe? And everything’s all right?”
His father put his hands on Don’s shoulders and looked at him.
“Yes, everything is going to be all right, thanks to some very good helpers! But it will take a few days before we can get the ‘Chinook’ ready to continue our trip. Do you boys still want to go, or have you had enough adventure for one summer?”
“Of course we want to go,” Peter said, “but I think from now on we’d better all stick together.”
Mr. Harris laughed. “Yes, you’re right. But there is no need for us to be separated again. I have taken rooms at the hotel for a day or two. Now I think it is high time you two went over there and settled down for a good night’s sleep.”
“But Dad, we haven’t told you about finding the ‘Chinook’!”
“I’m all ears to hear that story!” his father said. “I thought you could talk better at the snack bar, reinforced with sandwiches and milk shakes!”
While the boys downed their snack they told Mr. Harris the story of how they had found the “Chinook” hidden up the cove of Loughborough Inlet, and then later tried to stop the thieves in their run for open waters.
“What made you decide to go into Loughborough in the first place?” Mr. Harris wanted to know.
“Well you see, sir, we prayed about it first,” Peter said.
“You prayed about that?”
“Yes, of course!” Donald said. “We asked God to guide us to the right place, and He did!”
“And I suppose you prayed about the ‘Chinook’ and its crew when we were missing the first time?” Mr. Harris said.
Peter looked hard at him. He was not quite sure whether Mr. Harris was making fun of them or was really interested.
“Yes, we did. And we weren’t the only ones who prayed for you, Mr. Harris. There was a special prayer meeting with all the camp workers.”
“I wonder …” Mr. Harris began. He hesitated for a moment, then went on. “You know, when we were drifting out there in the boat, I almost gave up hope. I didn’t think we’d ever get picked up, and there was even less chance that we’d drift to shore safely. I thought for sure we’d break up on the rocks, or land at some place miles and miles from homes or settlements. But it just seemed as if that boat were being taken in gently and surely to the beach at Savary.”
Peter looked at Donald and his eyes were shining.
“But Dad, Peter told you everybody was praying for you. You see, He really does look after us. He hears our prayers, I know!”
Peter smiled and nodded. Sometimes it seemed to him that Donald’s faith was stronger than his own, and Donald was a new Christian.
“Dad, we ought to thank the Lord for answering our prayers. Don’t you think we should?”
His father looked at him a little strangely but did not reply.
“Everything has turned out right after all!” Donald went on. “For us, I mean, but it was a bit rough on the ‘Ambassador.’”
“The mission boat was badly damaged?”
“Yes. You see, when we tried to stop the ‘Chinook’ Dooley rammed right into the bow. Mr. Baird had to travel real slow down to Kelsey. He said he’d have to get some work done before he made his trip to pick up campers.” Donald paused and looked at his father. “Dad, Sergeant Brown said you’d offered a reward for anybody who helped find your boat, and it was really the ‘Ambassador’ that did the job. Couldn’t Mr. Baird have the reward? It would pay for damages.”
“I would certainly do that in any case,” Donald’s father said quietly. “Now you two must get off to bed. It’s very late. Your room is down the hall on the second floor. Number 14. I’ll be next door.”
“Thanks, Mr. Harris. Good night.” Peter said.
“Good night, Dad.”
He smiled at them and waved them off, as if impatient for them to be gone.
Once in their room the boys looked at each other.
“You know, Peter, Dad seemed kind of different tonight.”
Peter nodded. “I know. At first I thought he was making fun of me when he asked about praying, but afterward I thought he was really interested.”
“Do you think our prayers are beginning to work — about Dad, I mean?”
“Maybe. But we’ve praying so much about the ‘Chinook’ the last few days, we haven’t thought so much about your Dad. I guess people are lots more important to God than boats!”
Donald smiled and nodded. Together they knelt to pray beside their beds.