"I didn't guess you'd want to be parted," said John Hoover. "And the room is plenty big enough for two." "Yes, we prefer to remain together," answered Owen. The reception had been a chilling one, and the chill did not wear away when the pair were seated in the plainly furnished living room. The owner of the camp asked both a great number of questions about what they had done in Maine, and seemed very anxious to find out if each could really do a full man's work. "I aint paying no shirkers in my camp," said John Hoover. "Every man who gets a full day's pay must work for it." "You'd better let 'em go to bed now, John," said his wife. "They've traveled so much that if you don't they won't be worth a cent for work to-morrow--and I suppose you're going to start 'em right off, aint you?" "To be sure," answered the husband. "I aint wasting a whole day for nothing." The bedroom turned over to the young lumbermen was furnished with nothing but a wide bunk, and a long, rough bench. On one wall hung a swinging shelf made of a rough board three feet long. There was nothing on the floor, and the mattress in the bunk was old and smelt musty. For a light they were given about an inch of a tallow candle stuck on top of a tin candlestick. "This beats the hotels, doesn't it?" remarked Owen sarcastically. "Dale, I hope you don't remain awake to-night thinking of your elegant surroundings." "Well, I suppose it might be worse--if somebody tried real hard to make it so," responded Dale dryly. "They'd have to try mighty hard, I can tell you that. Do you know how long this will suit me?" "About ten years." "About ten hours." "Why, you act as if you were disappointed." "Oh, I'm not disappointed at all; I'm simply brimming over with joy; the place is so good I don't think I can stand it. If I stay too long I'll get lazy doing nothing, and living on the fat of the land." After this both burst into a low, merry laugh. Each felt the disappointment keenly, but both were resolved to make the best of it, and to make a new move at the first opportunity. John Hoover and his wife, retiring in an adjacent room, heard the laugh and listened with much satisfaction. "They must like the place," said the master of the camp. "I'm glad on it. I was afraid they'd be stuck up, after being in Bangor, Boston, and other big towns." "Oh, they know a good thing when they see it," answered his wife. "Perhaps they didn't have no mattress in them other camps, and no light to go to bed by. By and by I'm a-goin' to save on them candles. Wade raised a cent a pound on the cost of 'em." "Yes, we can't afford to spend extra money on 'em, even if one of 'em is my nephew," responded John Hoover. The young lumbermen were worn out with their journey, and soon fell asleep. At five o'clock the master of the camp pounded on their door and aroused them. "Come, get up!" he called. "Breakfast will be ready in ten minutes. You'll find a wash basin and towel outside of the kitchen door."