He grew more and more positive that he was close to the end of his adventure.

He would soon come upon life--human life.

And then?
He tried to dispel the unsteadiness of his emotions, the swiftly growing discomfort of a great anxiety.

The first, of course, would be Tavish's cabin, or the ruins of it.

He had taken it for granted that Tavish's location would be here, near the confluence of the two streams.