When he reached his camp he found that the fire had gone out. It was soon rekindled, when, after wrapping the cubs up in his overcoat, and putting them carefully away in one corner of the tent, he sat down on his bed of boughs, and made a hearty breakfast on cold venison and bread. While he was eating, he began to think seriously of setting out for "home," as he called the encampment where he had left his companions. He had accomplished much more than he had expected he could during the two days that he had been in the woods, and now had about as much on hand as he could conveniently attend to. The skins of the panther and bear must be prepared for stuffing, which would require his close attention; the cubs, also, must be taken care of and watched, for they would escape, if left to themselves. If he was at home, they could be shut up in the cabin while he was off hunting, and he could have his cousin's assistance in curing the skins. So, after resting an hour, he pulled on his overcoat again, stowing the cubs away in his pockets, folded up his blanket, strapped it fast to his belt, shouldered his gun, and set out.
It was dark before he reached the cabin. His companions had just finished eating their supper, and had not expected his return that night.
"Why, Frank, how are you?" exclaimed Archie, springing to his feet and seizing his cousin's hand. "I'm glad to see you back safe. What kind of a time did you have?--rather lonesome, I guess. What have you got?" he continued, as one of the cubs, thinking that something unusual was going on, again set up a furious yelping.
"I've the skin of the panther that killed the white buck," answered Frank, "and also a bearskin, and two young cubs." As he spoke, he drew the cubs from his pocket.
"You keerless feller!" exclaimed Dick, who had not yet spoken; "I know'd you'd be in some scrape or other."
"So did I," chimed in Harry, "and that's the reason why I wouldn't go with him. It's a wonder you ain't all clawed to pieces."
"Hain't had any supper yet I reckon?" said the trapper. "Come an' set down here, an' tell us all about it."
Frank was quickly relieved of his gun and overcoat, while a plateful of venison, some bread and butter, and a cup of hot coffee were passed over to him. Stretching his feet out toward the fire, he related the details of his adventures, while the trapper sat by, smoking his pipe, apparently deeply interested in his story.