Somewhere outside a bell clanged several strokes. Presently the door opened, and three men, shaking snow from their caps and stamping it from their feet, entered.
“’Tis a wild nicht,” said one, a big, grizzly bearded fellow, after they had formally greeted Paul and Dan. “Ye arrived just in time, laddies. Are ye up from York Factory?”
“No,” answered Paul, “we came from the north.”
“And how, now, could that be? The ship’s away this lang time.”
Paul explained briefly how they had gone adrift, and their subsequent adventures, up to the time of meeting Factor MacTavish.
“My name,” he added, “is Paul Densmore, and my friend is Dan Rudd.”
“I’m glad t’ meet ye lads. My name is Tammas Ferguson, and this is Sam’l Hogart, and this Amos Tupper,” introducing his companions.
During this conversation and ceremony the men were washing and preparing for supper, and as they sat down Amos invited:
“Set in to the tyble, and ’ave a bite to heat.”