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Rh slow progress. David had to acknowledge to himself that he would have found that return  trip a hard task, and any lingering resentment felt toward his uncle disappeared. Had he been alone it would have taken him a  good half-hour to have moved the goods over  the carry, making no less than six trips,  while the struggle against the current would  doubtless have kept him from reaching home  until well after darkness.

They met but three other voyagers on their journey and saw no Indians, friendly  or hostile, and just at sunset pulled the canoe  to shore and again shouldered the goods. David’s father was surprised at sight of the procession that came out of the woods toward  the house, but, on hearing the boy’s story,  agreed that Master Elkins had ordered  wisely. The Indians were paid off and given food and tobacco and took themselves away  again, while David, in spite of having done  but little to earn his passage, fell to on his  supper with noble hunger. As he ate—his father and Obid having already supped—he  told of his meeting with Monapikot and of  the latter’s news, and Master Lindall listened  in all gravity and Obid Dawkin in unconcealed alarm.