noon
You must make up your mind to put in a pretty hard time , but I 'll see you have fair play , anyway . '' As Frank looked at the rugged , honest , determined face , and the stalwart frame , he felt thoroughly satisfied that in Dan Johnston he had a friend in whom he could place perfect confidence , and that Mr. Stewart 's promise had been fully kept . The foreman then became quite sociable , and asked him many questions about his mother , and his life in Calumet , and his plans for the future , so that before they parted for the night Frank felt as if they were quite old friends instead of recent acquaintances . The following morning Johnston was bestirring himself bright and early getting his men and stores together , and before noon a start was made for the Kippewa River , on whose southern bank a site had already been selected for the lumber camp which would be the centre of his operations for the winter . Johnston 's gang numbered fifty men all told , himself included , and they were in high spirits as they set out for their destination . The stores and tools were , of course , transported by waggon ; but the men had to go on foot , and with fifteen miles of a rough forest road to cover before sundown , they struck a brisk pace as , in twos and threes and quartettes , they marched noisily along the dusty road . `` You stay by me , Frank , '' said the foreman , `` and if your young legs happen to go back on you , you can have a lift on one of the teams until you 're rested . ''