Mid pushings and splashings, from the management of his
scow, from air and sky, hill and water, he was in reality, deriving as
great pleasure as any millionaire might from the sailing of a choice
yacht; but he was aware only that, as he neared the end of his double
journey, he felt in better trim in mind and body to face his lugubrious
and rebellious ward.

When, however, he had toiled round the black rock cliff which hid the
clearing from the river's head, and was again in full sight of his own
house, all remembrance of the girl and his dread of meeting her passed
from him in his excessive surprise at seeing several men near his
dwelling. His dog was barking and leaping in great excitement. He heard
the voices of other dogs. It took but the first glance to show him that
the men were not Indians. Full of excited astonishment he pushed his
boat to the shore.

His dog, having darted with noisy scatter of dry leaves down the hill to
meet him, stood on the shore expectant with mouth open, excitement in
his eyes and tail, saying as clearly as aught can be said without
words--"This is a very agreeable event in our lives. Visitors have
come." The moment Bates put his foot on land the dog bounded barking up
the hill, then turned again to Bates, then again bounded off toward the
visitors. Even a watchdog may be glad to see strangers if the pleasure
is only rare enough.

Bates mounted the slope as a man may mount stairs--two steps at a time.
Had he seen the strangers, as the saying is, dropping from the clouds,
he could hardly have been more surprised than he was to see civilised
people had reached his place otherwise than by the lake, for the rugged
hills afforded nothing but a much longer and more arduous way to any
settlement within reach. When he got up, however, he saw that these men
carried with them implements of camp-life and also surveying
instruments, by which he judged, and rightly, that his guests were
ranging the lonely hills upon some tour of official survey.

That the travellers _were_ his guests neither he nor they had the
slightest doubt. They had set down their traps close to his door, and,
in the calm confidence that it would soon be hospitably opened by
rightful hands, they had made no attempt to open it for themselves.
There were eight men in the party, two of whom, apparently its more
important members, sauntered to meet Bates, with pipes in their mouths.
These told him what district they were surveying,