These anxiously-expected ones came in sight, each with a pack on his back. John also bore a gun on his shoulder, and Charlie a hatchet in his hand.
“They have travelled all the way!” exclaimed Captain Rhines.
“What are we thinking about! Here it is, most noon, not a thing done towards dinner, and these poor boys tired and half starved!” said Mrs. Rhines.
This was the signal for a general stampede in the direction of the house.
“I’ll get some dry wood, and have a fire in no time, wife.”
Then, with the combined efforts of these practised hands, a great fire was roaring in the chimney, the teakettle boiling, the table in the floor, and eggs frying by the time that Tige burst into the room, followed by the boys.
“Why, John, how you’ve grown!” said Captain Rhines, twirling him round on his heel; “and Charlie, too; I believe he has grown more than you have. There was more chance for it. You was as big as a moose before.”
“I guess hard work agrees with both of you,” said Mrs. Rhines.
“It always did,” replied Charlie. “We’re the boys for that.”
“Yes,” added John, “none of the western boys can lay us on our backs, either. Mother, do your hens lay well?”