But
how can a man leave the woods when he has been in them for ten
years?"
"It must be hard," Cora agreed, "and if you want to come back we
could arrange to build you a real camp out here, one in which Laurel
might have some comforts. But first you must get strong. Just
think of beef tea-broth--can't you smell it?"
"Girl! Girl!" he exclaimed with a real smile brightening his
benevolent face, "you have a way! Laurel, we have no trunks to
pack," he said, half grimly, "have we?"
"But we have things to take with us," 'and she jumped up so pleased,
believing that he had almost, if not entirely, consented to go.
"Where's that rabbit?" asked Jack.
Walter and the girls were coming the other way.
"It's in a mossy bed just back of where Bess stands," said Laurel.
"Then he's the first thing to be packed," said Jack, walking
straight for the path where the others stood.
From that time until the Petrel landed at the lower end of Cedar
Lake Mr. Starr, the hermit, felt that he was in a dream. At the
same time he allowed himself to be guided and managed with the
simplicity of a child, for his awakened memory seemed stunned by
this new turn of affairs. He was weak, of course, but with all the
hands that now crowded around him his every need was well looked
after.
"I'll get Dr. Rand," Ed volunteered. "They say he is wonderful on
mental cases."
"But he needs rest first," insisted the busy Cora, for she and
Laurel had gone directly to the boys' bungalow with Mr.
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