friends had not been misplaced; Dan and Lester Brigham were to be
outwitted after all.

The traps and the "figure fours" with which they were to be set,
could be built there in the shop, Don said. There were tools and a
bench and everything else needful close at hand, so that the work
could be done in half the time that David had expected to devote to
it. As fast as the traps were completed they were to be set in
General Gordon's fields. They would be safe there and Dan Evans or
Lester Brigham or anybody else who came near them, would be likely to
get himself into trouble. The negroes were always at work in the
fields in the daytime, and if they were told to keep their eyes open
and report any outsiders who might be seen prowling about the fences,
they would be sure to do it. The best course David could pursue would
be to say nothing more about trapping the quails. Let Dan believe
that he had become discouraged and given up the enterprise. If he
wanted to know what it was that took his brother over to General
Gordon's house so regularly, David could tell him that he was doing
some work there, which would be the truth; and besides it would be
all Dan had any right to know.

As fast as the birds were caught, they could be locked up in one of
the empty negro cabins; and any one who found out that they were
there and tried to steal them, would run the risk of being caught by
Don's hounds. It was a splendid plan, taken altogether, and David's
eyes fairly glistened while it was unfolded to him. He thanked the
brothers over and over again for their kindness and the interest they
took in his success, and might have kept on thanking them if Don had
not interrupted him with--