"We'll cache un here," said he, "and when we comes back take un with us, and you lads can take un home."
On Wednesday night they had the shelter of a tilt, which Skipper Zeb called "Long Lake tilt," and on Friday evening they reached "Big Lake tilt" and the end of the trail.
"Here we stops till Monday," Skipper Zeb announced. "'Twill give you lads a chance to rest up."
"That's great! It's the longest and hardest hike I ever had," said Charley. "I'll tell Dad about it when I get home, and he'll think I could have stood the Newfoundland hike he wouldn't take me on. I'll bet it wasn't half as hard as this one!"
"You'll be gettin' as strong as a young bear, lad, and as toughened up as a wolverine before you leaves The Labrador," chuckled Skipper Zeb.
"Mother'll be scared when I tell her what I've done here," said Charley, "but Dad will be proud of it. They never thought I could do anything hard, and never let me do anything much. They'll know now what I can do!"
"We never knows what we can do till we tries un," commented Skipper Zeb.
The following morning Skipper Zeb did not wake the boys, but left them to sleep while he slipped away alone to set traps in the forest and marshes along the lake shore. It was broad day when they awoke, and when they had eaten Toby suggested:
"We'll be goin' out with my rifle and try shootin' at a mark."
"May I shoot?" asked Charley eagerly. "I never shot a gun in my life and I'd like to learn!"