At nine o'clock the next morning he stood by the side of his boat again.

The great stillness of the woods, responding in vivid color to the first kisses of the frost, half intoxicated him.

No world-wide wanderer, returning after many years to the home of his childhood, could have felt more exulting gladness than he, as he shoved his boat from the bank and pushed up the shining stream in the face of the sun.
Benedict and Harry had not been idle during his absence.

A deer had been shot and dressed; trout had been caught and saved alive; a cave had been dug for the preservation of vegetables; and when Jim shouted, far down the stream, to announce his approach, there were three happy persons on shore, waiting to welcome him--Turk being the third, and apparently oblivious of the fact that he was not as much a human being as any of the party.

Turk added the "tiger" to Harry's three cheers, and Jim was as glad as a boy when his boat touched the shore, and he received the affectionate greetings of the party.
A choice meal was nearly in readiness for him, but not a mouthful would he taste until he had unfolded his treasures, and displayed to the astonished eyes of Mr.Benedict and the lad the comfortable clothing he had brought for them.
"Take 'em to Number Ten and put 'em on," said Jim.