After they had eaten, and Jim had sat down to his pipe, he told his guests that they were to have visitors that night--a man from the city and his little boy--and that they would spend a fortnight with them.

The news alarmed Mr.Benedict, for his nerves were still weak, and it was a long time before he could be reconciled to the thought of intrusion upon his solitude; but Jim reassured him by his enthusiastic accounts of Mr.Balfour, and Harry was overjoyed with the thought of having a companion in the strange lad.
"I thought I'd come home an' git ye ready," said Jim; "fur I knowed ye'd feel bad to meet a gentleman in yer old poor-house fixin's.

Burn 'em or bury 'em as soon as I'm gone.

I don't never want to see them things agin." Jim went off again down the river, and Mr.Benedict and Harry busied themselves in cleaning the camp, and preparing Number Ten for the reception of Mr.Balfour and his boy, having previously determined to take up their abode with Jim for the winter.

The latter had a hard afternoon.