Joe Ferris was the first to greet him after he crossed the border at a way-station at six o'clock in the morning.[25]
"Joe, old boy," cried Roosevelt exuberantly, "will you ever forget the first time we met?"
Joe admitted that he would not.
"You nearly murdered me. It seemed as if all the ill-luck in the world pursued us."
Joe grinned.
"Do you remember too, Joe," exclaimed Roosevelt, "how I swam the swollen stream and you stood on the bank and kept your eyes on me? The stream was very badly flooded when I came to it," said the Governor, turning to the group that had gathered about them. "I forced my horse into it and we swam for the other bank. Joe was very much distressed for fear we would not get across."
"I wouldn't have taken that swim for all of Dakota," said Joe.
At Dickinson, a gray-faced, lean man pushed his way through the crowd. It was Maunders, who had prospered, in spite of his evil ways. "Why," exclaimed Roosevelt, "it does me good to see you. You remember when I needed a hammer so badly and you loaned it to me? You loaned me a rifle also. I never shall forget how badly I needed that hammer just then."
Maunders, who had always been affable, grinned with delight and joined the Governor's party.
The train moved on to Medora. Roosevelt and Joe Ferris sat by the window, and it seemed that every twisted crag and butte reminded them of the days when they had ridden over that wild country together.