How simple the explanation was after all, and how Bandy-legs must feel his cheeks burn with shame at the thought of having suspected this same Obed of trying to deceive them.  Max could easily picture the ex-sea captain seated in that capacious fireside chair with the tufted cushion, and perhaps smoking his long-stemmed pipe with the air of a man who believed he had found what he had long sought, peace and comfort combined, only to have a summons come that he dared not disobey.

“Make yourselves to hum,” said Obed, cheerily.  “Here, drop the packs over in this corner.  If later on so be yuh want to git anything out o’ the same it’ll be easy done.  And seein’ as I’ve got dinner started, I guess we wont take a turn around the farm till it’s been stowed away.”

Although, of course, all of the boys were eager to see what a fur farm looked like, where those wonderful black foxes that brought such, a big price in the London markets were being bred in captivity, none of them objected to sitting down and taking a rest.  Bandy-legs and Steve in particular made a bolt for the big chair, though the latter was too quick for his competitor, and managed to ensconce himself within its capacious embrace before Bandy-legs arrived.

“Start earlier next time, Bandy-legs!” crowed the proud possessor of the coveted seat, as he spread himself so as to occupy it all.  “But after I’ve tried it out I’ll vacate, because I expect to get busy in that bully little kitchen, and help friend Obed sling the grub for dinner.”

So Bandy-legs had to content himself with a seat on the couch.  He might have been observed sniffing the air with avidity, however, as though he had caught some enticing odor stealing out of the oven of the cook stove, that was not unlike fresh bread being well browned; and there was nothing Bandy-legs loved better than the crust part of a fresh baking—­he always had a compact with the cook at home to save him the “run-over” portions, which he looked upon as a prize well worth having.

Soon Obed left them there in the larger room and vanished within the kitchen.  It was a challenge to Steve which he could not long resist.  Bandy-legs kept watching him glance toward the connecting doors.  His whole manner was that of a boy who, although making no sound, might be “sicking” one dog on another.  No sooner had Steve left the capacious fireside chair than Bandy-legs slipped into it; and after that he was not meaning’ to be dislodged until the summons came to gather about the table to discuss the midday meal.  Bandy-legs liked eating as well as the next one; but he loved his ease more, and was well content to have some other fellow do the hard work of getting the meal ready; his time would come when he had to “work his jaws” in disposing of his portion of the spread.

The more Max looked about him the greater his wonder became.  All manner of thoughts surged through that active mind of his.  He had already conceived the greatest sort of secret admiration for the extraordinary woods boy, even before he had glimpsed that remarkable fur farm which the other was successfully running.  Plainly, then, this same Obed Grimes was bound to be a credit to his family; and all those people bearing the strange names given by Obed would some day find cause to feel proud of having such an enterprising relative.