There was so much life, so much cheerfulness, and so much assurance of strength and invincibility that Ned began to feel as if he did not have a care left.

All the men already called him Ned, and he felt that every one of them was his friend.
Karnes put a strip of venison on the sharp end of a stick, and broiled it over the blaze.

It gave out a singularly appetizing odor, and when it was done he extended it to the boy.
"Here, Ned," he said, "take this on the end of your knife and eat it.
I'll wager that you haven't had any good warm victuals for a week, and it will taste mighty well." Ned ate it and asked for more.

He would have done his own cooking, but they would not let him.

They seemed to take a pleasure in helping him, and, used as they were to hardships and danger, they admired all the more the tenacity and courage that had brought a boy so far.
"We can promise you one thing, Ned," said "Deaf" Smith.