"The boy's getting big and strong an' it's time he learned," said Ross.

"His hand's steady enough an' his eye's good enough already," said Shif'less Sol, and his father agreeing with them told them to take him and teach him.
Two miles away, near the bank of the river, was a spring to which the game often came to drink, and for this spring they started a little while before sundown, Henry carrying his rifle on his shoulder, and his heart fluttering.

He felt his years increase suddenly and his figure expand with equal abruptness.

He had become a man and he was going forth to slay big game.

Yet despite his new manhood the blood would run to his head and he felt his nerves trembling.