w, if Don and Bert did not, that it was something besides a
bear they had driven off Bruin's Island, on the day they went up the
bayou with the hounds. He had seen footprints in the mud that were
made by a barefooted man; and more than that, having been the first
to come out of the cane when the dogs led the way toward the head of
the island, he had caught a glimpse of something, as it was
disappearing in the bushes on the main shore, which looked
wonderfully like the tattered hickory shirt his father had worn the
last time he saw him. This discovery, taken in connection with Dan's
behavior, led David to believe that his father and brother were often
in communication with each other; and when the pointer disappeared,
he promptly settled it in his own mind that Godfrey and Dan were to
blame for it. He was as certain now that Dan had had a finger in the
business as he would have been if he had seen him going off with the
dog; and he resolved that as soon as the next day dawned, he would
take pains to find out whether or not he was correct in supposing
that his father was Dan's accomplice.

"Father hid on Bruin's Island while the Yankees were raiding through
here," thought David. "When we drove him off, thinking he was a bear,
of course he had to hunt a new hiding-place, and it is possible that
he is now camping close about there on the main shore. If I can find
his camp, I'll take a good look at it. If I don't see the pointer
there, well and good; I shall be very glad of it. But if he is there,
I must get hold of him somehow. Don has been swindled out of enough
money by the black sheep of our family, and he shan't lose any more
by them if I can help it."

As this thought passed through David's mind, an expression of
determination settled on his face, which did not fail to attract the
notice of Dan, who just then happened to look into the cabin to see
what his brother was doing.

"What you lookin' that ar way fur?" demanded Dan. "Ain't puttin' up a
job on me, be you?"

David replied that he was not.

"You'll take the pinter to Don an' fetch me back the ten dollars,
honor bright?" continued Dan.

"That is what I promised to do, isn't it?" asked David in reply. "But
if I can help it you will never have the dog in your possession
again," he added, mentally. "I didn't promise that I wouldn't head
you off if I could."

"An' you won't answer no questions? Don said in that notice that he
wouldn't ax none."

"Then of c