"We found him half frozen, in the snow," said Whopper. "He says there is something the matter with his back."
The shelter gained, Shep and Giant were glad enough to go in and rest and so was Kiddy Leech. The tramp gazed around the cozy place with keen satisfaction.
"This is a bang-up bunk," he observed. "A fellow could stay here a long time and enjoy himself."
While the three newcomers rested, Giant and Snap bustled around and prepared them a substantial meal, with plenty of hot coffee, for the trip across the cove had been a cold one and they wanted something for "thawing out purposes," as Shep said. Kiddy Leech was not backward in eating a big meal, washing it down with all the coffee offered him.
"Coffee is the next thing to liquor for warming a fellow," he observed.
"We think it is far better," answered Snap. "We carry no liquor of any kind, only a little alcohol for special purposes."
"Humph!"
After the meal Shep got out some liniments for the tramp, but he said he would try a good sleep first. He sought out a comfortable corner of the shelter, and in a very few minutes was snoring away lustily.
"He certainly takes things easy," said the doctor's son.
"I believe he is thoroughly lazy, and a heavy drinker," answered
Giant, and hit the nail squarely on the head.