y we caught the ghost and
he proved to be a harmless old man with a talking parrot, and
that we shot the parrot and the man left the vicinity of the lake
after his parrot was dead." And so it was agreed. Of course the
boys' parents heard the real story, but that was as far as the
tale circulated.

The boys went into the log hut and there saw how the hermit had
been living in his primitive way. In a corner he had a box filled
with ammunition for his gun and also a large collection of hooks
and lines. He had a plate, a cup, and a kettle and pan, and that
was all. He ate from a block of wood and slept on a heap of cedar
boughs. His clothing was almost worn to rags.

It took a great deal of talking to get him to consent to return
to civilization, but finally Giant accomplished his purpose.
Then the young hunters told about the dead bear, and the hermit
showed them how to get the carcass down to the lake front without
much trouble. Once at the camp, Pierre Dunrot was given some
clean garments, and before donning them he took a bath in the lake.
When he had put on the clean clothing he looked like a different
individual.

Of course Giant was anxious to get home at once, and his chums
could not blame him. The others wanted to take the bear to town, and
so it was decided that the return home should begin the next morning.

The journey to Fairview took three days, the boys pushing along as
rapidly as circumstances would permit. The companionship of the
lads appeared to brighten Pierre Dunrot's mind wonderfully, and it
was only now and then that he relapsed into his former simpleness.

Fairview reached, Giant lost no time in hurrying his uncle to his
home. Mrs. Caslette was sitting by a window sewing when the pair
appeared.

"Why, Will!" she called out and arose. Then she looked at the
man. "Can it be possible? Pierre!" And she stood still, staring
at her relative.

"Yes, it is really Uncle Pierre!" cried Giant.

The next moment the man and the woman were kissing each other. Mrs.
Caslette was bewildered and it took some time for Giant to tell
his story. Then Pierre Dunrot had his say. He was greatly
excited over coming back, and that night had to be placed in a
physician's care. Dr. Reed attended him, and came to see the
former hermit for a week. Pierre Dunrot had quite a severe spell
of sickness, mostly due to his weak brain, but when he got over
it he was clearer-minded than he had been for years.