before putting them near the fire.

Harry was very impatient to be off, but Charity was so certain that he
would catch his death of cold if he started before his clothes were dry
that he allowed himself to be persuaded to wait.

And then she fried some salt pork, on which, with a great piece of
corn-bread, he made a hearty meal, for he was very hungry.

"Have you had your dinner, Charity?" he asked.

"Oh, yes, Mah'sr Harry; long time ago," she said.

"Then it must be pretty late," said Harry, anxiously.

"Oh, no!" said she; "'tain't late. I reckon it can't be much mor' 'n
four o'clock."

"Four o'clock!" shouted Harry, jumping up in such a hurry that he nearly
tripped himself in Uncle Oscar's trousers, which were much too long for
him. "Why, that's dreadfully late. Where can the day have gone? I must
be off, instantly!"

So much had happened since morning, that it was no wonder that Harry had
not noticed how the hours had flown.

The ride to the creek, the discussions there, the delay in getting the
boat, the passage down the stream, which was much longer than Harry had
imagined, and the time he had spent in the tree and in the cabin, had,
indeed, occupied the greater part of the day.