cane?"

"I don't know, I am sure. What's this? Can you tell a bear track when
you see it?"

"Of course I can," answered Don, and the listeners heard him pushing
his way through the cane toward the path in which his brother stood.
"But I don't call this a bear track," he added, after a moment's
pause, during which he was closely examining the footprint his
brother pointed out to him. "A barefooted man or boy has been along
here, and that track was made not more than ten minutes ago. And,
Bert," he continued, in a lower tone, "you were right about that boat
after all. Come on, now, and if the thief is here we'll have a look
at him."

"Pap," whispered Dan, hurriedly, "they're comin' sure's you're
livin'. Le's slip around to the other side of the island, easy like,
and steal their boats afore they know what is goin' on."

"We couldn't do it," replied his father, in the same cautious
whisper. "They'd be sure to see us. I'll fix 'em when they come nigh
enough. I'd like to shoot 'em both, to pay 'em for findin' my hidin'
place."

"Don't do that, pap," said Dan, in great alarm. "Here they come,
an'---- Laws a massy? What's that?"

As Dan uttered these words, a deep, hoarse, growl, so suddenly and
fiercely uttered, that it almost made his hair stand on end, sounded
close at his side. Don and Bert heard it, and they were as badly