The place did not now have an uncanny look to Paul.

Instead, it bore certain aspects of home, and he forgot all about the mummies in the trees, which were their protection from invasion.
"It's good to get back again," he said.
They landed on the island, hid the canoe, and went straight to the hollow, finding everything there absolutely undisturbed.
"We'll sleep to-night," said Henry, "and in the morning we'll plan." Paul noticed, when he rose early the next day, that the whole earth was silver with frost, and he felt they were particularly fortunate in having found some sort of shelter.

The others shared his satisfaction, and they worked all day, enlarging the hut, and strengthening it against the wind and cold with more bark and brush.

At night Henry and Ross took the canoe, went to the mainland, and came back with a deer.

The next day Jim Hart and Shif'less Sol were busy drying the venison, and Paul spent his time fishing with considerable success.
Several days passed thus, and they accumulated more meat and more skins.
The latter were particularly valuable for warmth.