He was physically fit.

Three months had hardened him until he was like a rock.

He believed that he had more than regained his weight.

He could beat Father Roland with either rifle or pistol, and in one day he had travelled forty miles on snow shoes.

That was when they had arrived just in time to save the life of Jean Croisset's little girl, who lived over on the Big Thunder.
The crazed father had led them a mad race, but they had kept up with him.