“Well, the postmen up there have an easy time once in a while,” replied the letter-carrier as he slung the heavy pouch over his shoulder and went on his way.

The old man sat on the step of the porch and read the letter, which was a long one.  Jan knew his master was glad over something, and yet, when the letter was finished, there were tears rolling down the captain’s cheeks.  Jan edged tightly against him.

“They’re all well,” said the old man, “and they want us to come and live with them.  Look, Jan!” He held out a piece of paper which the dog sniffed at.  “That is to pay our way, and we’re going to start just as soon as we can pack up.  You see, it worked out right in the end!”

Busy hours followed for them all.  The captain hurried about the little house, packing things into boxes, and taking down pictures, which he put into a trunk.  One picture he held for some minutes, “That was Jenny when she was a little girl, just able to walk, Jan.”  Then he wrapped it very carefully in a faded blue knitted scarf and placed it in the trunk with the other things.  Hippity-Hop scurried about the room, and Cheepsie had a hard time clinging to the old man’s shoulder, for he moved so swiftly and kept leaning over the trunk.

It was three o’clock in the afternoon when the trunk was shut and locked and an old carpet-bag stood beside it.  The captain’s hat was on his head, Cheepsie chirped in his cage that was wrapped tightly with paper, and Hippity-Hop mewed forlornly from a basket, while Jan moved nervously between the bundles and his master, wondering what it all meant.  Then a man drove to the door and carried the trunk and valise to his wagon, leaving the captain to pick up the bird-cage and the hamper that held the kitten.

“Come along, Jan,” he called cheerfully, and the dog rushed ahead, turning back to frisk in circles or leap up in front of his friends.  Jan was much happier than Hippity-Hop, who was yowling loudly as she stuck one paw through a hole in the basket, and Cheepsie’s twitters sounded really cross.

Jan, once again, was put in a baggage car and after a ride of several hours, the captain got him out and led him to a wharf.  Jan remembered his trip in the boat when he came to the Land of No Snow.  He hesitated to go up the plank walk, but the captain smiled and said, “It’s all right, Jan.  Come along!” and then the dog trotted fearlessly along the boards that led to the deck of the big boat.  Everything was confusion, but Jan did not worry when his master led him down into the lower part of the boat, under the deck.  After tying Jan, the old man gave him a final pat and said, “I’ll be back soon, Jan”; and the dog, knowing everything was all right, stretched on his side and closed his eyes.  He was tired from the trip, the excitement of packing, and from those days of worry before the letter came that made the captain happy again.  So he was very glad to have nothing to do, nothing to think about.