“Wall, it about sixty-five miles as the crow flies but ye’ll have ter go ’bout five miles outter yer way ter git round Churchill Lake,” the man replied. Then, as if a sudden thought struck him, he asked, “Ye don’t happen ter know what that guide’s name was, do ye?” “No.” Bob replied. “You see, they went in from Presque Isle.” “I see,” the man said soberly. “Course I hope yer friend’s all right but I do know that there’s some mighty onery guys what call themselves guides over that way.” Just then a woman stuck her head in at the door and said that dinner was ready. The boys followed their host into what was evidently the combined sitting-room and dinning-room back of the store. “We don’t put on much style here but you’re welcome to what we got,” he said as he motioned to them to sit up at the table. In another moment the storekeeper’s wife, a motherly woman of about his age, brought in a steak which fairly made the boys gasp. She sat it on the table in front of them with a word of apology. “If I had known that you were coming I’d have had something fit for you to eat.” “My goodness, if that steak isn’t fit to eat I hope I never see one that is,” Jack gasped as he watched the rich juice oozing out. The woman flushed with pleasure at the praise and, a moment later, brought in a large dish of potatoes fried a rich brown, and a plate of fresh biscuits. “There, I hope you’ll be able to make out,” she said as she sat the last dish down. “If we can’t we ought to starve,” Bob declared as he helped himself to a piece of the steak which was all of three inches thick. And as he told Jack afterward, it was just as good as it looked. So tender that they could almost cut it with a fork, they both declared that it was the best steak they had ever eaten. For dessert they had a huge piece of apple pie covered with rich yellow cream. “I never ate a better dinner in my life,” Bob declared as he pushed back his chair. And Jack heartily seconded the statement. Both the man and his wife seemed much pleased at their praise. “And now how much do I owe you?” Bob asked as he pulled out his pocketbook. “Not a cent,” the man shook his head. “You are welcome to what ye had.” Bob started to insist but the man refused to listen and, seeing that he would be offended if he pushed the matter further, he gave up the argument and both boys thanked the man and his wife for their kindness. “I only hope that we may be able to do as much for you sometime,” Bob declared. “Talk about being goodhearted,” Jack said a little later, when they were again on their way. “That man’s a king and his wife’s a queen, and I can lick the fellow who disputes it.” “Well, you won’t have to lick me on that score,” Bob laughed. “I most heartily indorse your sentiments.”