Jim regarded him with great pride, and almost with awe.

He delighted to hear him talk, for he was full of information and overflowing with suggestion.
"Mr.Benedict," said Jim one day, after they had indulged in one of their long talks, "do ye s'pose ye can make a house ?" "Anything." "A raal house, all ship-shape for a woman to live in ?" "Anything." "With a little stoop, an' a bureau, an' some chairs, an' a frame, like, fur posies to run up on ?" "Yes, Jim, and a thousand things you never thought of." Jim did not pursue the conversation further, but went down very deep into a brown study.
During September, he was in the habit of receiving the visits of sportsmen, one of whom, a New York lawyer, who bore the name of Balfour, had come into the woods every year for several successive years.

He became aware that his supplies were running low, and that not only was it necessary to lay in a winter's stock of flour and pork, but that his helpless _proteges_ should be supplied with clothing for the coming cold weather.

Benedict had become quite able to take care of himself and his boy; so one day Jim, having furnished himself with a supply of money from his long accumulated hoard, went off down the river for a week's absence.
He had a long consultation with Mike Conlin, who agreed to draw his lumber to the river whenever he should see fit to begin his enterprise.
He had taken along a list of tools, furnished him by Benedict; and Mike carried him to Sevenoaks with the purpose of taking back whatever, in the way of stores, they should purchase.

Jim was full of reminiscences of his night's drive, and pointed out to Mike all the localities of his great enterprise.