During the time spent at the cabin, the boys became very well acquainted with Barwell Dawson, and found the hunter and explorer a person very much to their liking. Although he was rich and well educated, he did not act as if he considered himself above them. He took a lively interest in all they had to tell, and knew how to "draw them out," so that, almost before he knew it, Andy had related the details of his troubles with his shiftless Uncle Si and with the mysterious Mr. A. Q. Hopton. "More than likely that fellow, Hopton, will bear close watching," said Barwell Dawson. "If he is a sharper--and it looks as if he might be--he will try to swindle both you and your uncle. It was very unwise for your uncle to try to do business with him without seeing a lawyer." "Uncle Si wanted to get the money without my knowing it," answered Andy, bitterly. He was glad to open his heart to somebody who could understand him. "I believe you--and that is not to your uncle's credit. You say he is shiftless and lazy?" "Very--and everybody around here knows it." "Then he is not fit to be your guardian." "I don't believe he is, legally. He just said he was going to be, that's all." "Well, that doesn't make him so," answered the hunter, with a grim smile. With Andy he went over the papers the boy had brought from home. They seemed to prove that the lad's father owned a divided interest in a large tract of timber in the upper portion of Michigan. The papers had evidently been drawn up by somebody who knew very little about legal matters, and the phraseology was highly perplexing. After poring over them for an hour, and asking Professor Jeffer's advice, Barwell Dawson shook his head slowly. "I think it is an honest claim, and in your father's favor," he said. "But it will take a skillful lawyer to unravel it. Certainly your father bought something, and paid for it, for here are the words, 'one thousand dollars, the receipt of which from Andrew S. Graham is hereby admitted.' The writer meant 'acknowledged,' but I guess 'admitted' is good enough." "I was going to take it to a lawyer in Lodgeport." "Is he a reliable man, Andy?" "I don't know--I suppose so." "Well, supposing you let me look into this matter with you? I am in no hurry to get away from these parts, and I feel that you ought to let me do something in return for what you and Chet did for me." "I'll be very glad to have your help, Mr. Dawson--if you can spare the time." "I hope the claim proves of value--for I take you to be the kind of a lad who deserves to get along," said Barwell Dawson, smiling. During the time spent in the cabin, Barwell Dawson and Professor Jeffer discussed the trip to the far north in many details, and the hunter even traced out an imaginary route on one of the scientist's maps. Both men were equally enthusiastic, and after Mr. Dawson had asked the professor some more questions about himself, he at last consented that the latter should become one of the exploring party.