Next door to the blacksmith shop was a small house where Mr. Harrison lived alone. He did his own cooking, and, once or twice a week, he hired a woman from the village to come in and do some cleaning. It was to this rather humble home that the old soldier took Dan.
“The first thing we’ll do will be to have dinner,” said Mr. Harrison. “I suppose you are hungry.”
“Yes, for I had very little breakfast, and I have been kept pretty busy since.”
“Well, I’ll cook something, and then we can discuss some plans.”
The blacksmith proved that he knew how to get a meal, for he had often served as camp cook in the army.
“Can’t I wash up the dishes for you?” asked Dan, when they were through eating. “I often did for Mrs. Savage.”
“Yes, if you like. Then you can come to the smithy. I have some work I promised to finish for a man, and it is rather a difficult job.”
“I’m afraid you were delayed by coming to my trial,” said Dan.
“It was a delay I was glad of, since I could be of service to you.”
When Dan went into the smithy, after washing and drying the dishes, he found Mr. Harrison hard at work.