t at him;
but it was growin' dark fast, and I flogged off the sluts arter a deal
o' work, and viewed him down the old blind run-way into th' swale eend,
where I telled you; and then I laid still quite a piece; and then I
circled round, to see if he'd quit it, and not one dog tuk track on him,
and so I feels right sartain as he's in that hole now, and will be in
the mornin', if so be we goes there in time, afore the sun's up.

"That we can do easily enough," said Archer, "what do you say, Tom? Is
it worth while?"

"Why," answered old Draw instantly, "if so be only we could be sartain
that the darned critter warn't lyin', there couldn't be no doubt about
it; for if the buck did lay up there this night, why he'll be there
to-morrow; and if so be he's there, why we can get him sure!"

"Well, Jem, what have you got to say now," said the Commodore; "is it
the truth or no?"

"Why, darn it all," retorted Jem, "harn't I just told you it was true;
it's most blamed hard a fellow can't be believed now--why, Mr. Aircher,
did I ever lie to you?"

"Oh! if you ask me that," said Harry, "you know I must say 'Yes!'--for
you have, fifty times at the least computation. Do you remember the day
you towed me up the Decker's run to look for woodcock?"

"And you found nothing," interrupted Tom, "but..."

"Oh shut up, do, Tom," broke in Forester, "and let us hear about this
buck. If we agree to give you a five dollar bill, Jem, in case we do
find him where you say, what will you be willing to forfeit if we do
not?"

"You may shoot at me!" answered Jem, "all on you--ivery one on you--at
forty yards, with rifle or buckshot!"

"It certainly is very likely that we should be willing to get hanged for
the sake of shooting such a mangy hound as you Jem," answered Forester,
"when one could shoot a good clean dog--Tom's Dash, for example--for
nothing!"

"Could you though?" Tom replied, "I'd like to catch you at it, my dear
boy--I'd wax the little hide off of you. But come, let us be settling.
Is it a lie now, Jem; speak out--is it a lie, consarn you? for if it be,
you'd best jest say 't out now, and save your bones to-morrow. Well,
boys, the critter's sulky, so most like it is true--and I guess we'll be
arter him. We'll be up bright and airly, and go a horseback, and if he
be there, we can kill him in no time at all, and be right back to
breakfast. I'll start Jem and the captain here, and Dave Seers, with the
dogs, an hour afore us! and let