"Then you'd better run along. I will join you in a few moments. I must go first and see Manuel about the lunch."
"All right, sir."
Through the crisp morning air Theo bounded across to the dining-cabin, where he found Mr. Croyden.
A bright fire burned on the hearth and the table with its heaping plates of hot johnny-cake looked most inviting.
"Hello, youngster!" called the older man, glancing up with a smile. "How do you find yourself to-day? All lamed up after your jolt over the carry?"
"Not a bit, Mr. Croyden," laughed Theo. "I'm not lame at all. I'm just hungry."
"A perfectly normal condition. So long as you can eat I guess there is not much the matter with you."
"Oh, I can always eat," grinned Theo. "Mother says my appetite never goes back on me."
"Well, fall to. It looks as if Franz had prepared for the worst," chuckled Mr. Croyden. "What are you and your dad up to to-day?"
"We are going to Owl Lake to fish."