"Fifth day," said Rob. "It's about time they were coming."
His prediction was fulfilled that evening, when, as they were preparing the camp-fire for their supper, they heard a loud shout from the trail back of them.
But even as he asked he had his answer. Such excited gesticulations, such cries of welcome, could come from no one but Moise.
The two boys ran rapidly to meet Moise, and overwhelmed him with questions asked all at once.
"How's everything?" demanded Rob, "and where's Jesse?"
"Oh, those boy, she'll been all right," said Moise. "She'll be on camp seex, h'eight mile below here, up above, maybe so. My cousins Billy and At-tick, come through with us--they'll portage half-way to-day.
"But, _mes amis_," broke out Moise; "there's your boat! How you'll got her through? S'pose you take wings an' fly over those rock, _hein_? _Mon Dieu!_"
"We couldn't wait any longer, Moise," said Rob, "and we thought we had better be busy than idle. It was hard work, but Alex carried her over, and we didn't have much left to pack except our rifles and ourselves."
"Then you'll not need any mans for help on the portage? All right. We'll get some boat below."
"How far is it back to your camp, Moise?" demanded John.
"Maybe five, seex mile, maybe more--I'll not keep track of heem."
"Can we go back there to-night with you? I'd like to see Jess. May we go, Alex?"
"If you like," answered the old hunter, quietly. "I'll stay here and sleep, and if you care to, you can sleep there. I don't doubt you will be glad to see your friend again, and he'll be glad to see you."
Tired as the boys had been, they were now so excited that they forgot their fatigue, and trotted along close to Moise as he now turned and struck a steady pace back on the portage trail. It was quite dark when at last they came out on a high bank above a level, at which a camp-fire was glowing. John and Rob put their hands to their mouths and gave a loud "Halloo!" They saw the smaller of the three figures at the fire jump to his feet. Then came the answering "Halloo!" of Jesse, who came scrambling up to meet them as they hurried down.
"You're safe, then," said Jesse. "Oh, but I'm glad you got here all right."
"We're glad to meet you safe and sound, too," said Rob. "Yes, we finished the trip--we even carried our boat through by ourselves, and she's there now on the bank of the stream, ready to go on down."