Bob's father had become a general, and when the war closed, he was sent west to fight the Indians, and he took Lieutenant Jacob Dolan with him, and Bob sent to John news of the Indian fighting that glorified Bob further.
And when a letter came to the Ridge from Dolan announcing that he and the Hendricks family were coming back to the Ridge to live,--the general to look after his neglected property, and Dolan to start a livery-stable,--John heard the news with a throb of great joy.

When a letter from Bob confirmed the news, John began to count the days.

For the love of boys is the most unselfish thing in a selfish world.

They met awkwardly and sheepishly at the stage, and greeted each other with grunts, and became inseparable.

Bob came back tall, lanky, grinny, and rather dumb, and he found John undersized, wiry, masterful, and rather mooney, but strong and purposeful, for a boy.