Joe charged upon the doe once more, and when it aimed another blow at him, he threw himself under its body, and the animal falling over on its side, the combined efforts of the men sufficed to bind its feet.  Joe then went to the house for the hounds and the sled, and Glenn leant against the oak, awaiting his return.  It was not long before the hounds arrived, which was soon succeeded by the approach of Joe with the sled.  Ringwood and Jowler evinced palpable signs of delight on beholding the bound captive, but their training was so perfect that they showed no disposition to molest it without the orders of their master.  One word from Glenn, and the deer would have been instantly torn in pieces; but it was exempt from danger as long as that word was withheld.

Joe soon came up, and in a very few minutes the doe was laid upon the sled.  When he was in the act of starting homewards with his novel burden, the hounds, contrary to their usual practice, refused to accompany Glenn to the thicket north of their position, where the fox was still heard, and strangely seemed inclined to run in a contrary direction.  And what was equally remarkable, while snuffing the air towards the south, they gave utterance to repeated fierce growls.  Joe was utterly astonished, and Glenn was fast losing the equanimity of his temper.

“There’s something more than common down there; see how Ringwood bristles up on the back,” said Joe.

“Run there with the hounds, and see what it is,” said Glenn.

“And I’ll take my musket, too,” said Joe, striding in the direction indicated, with the hounds at his heels and his musket on his shoulder.

When he reached a narrow rivulet about one hundred paces distant, that gradually widened and deepened until it formed the valley in which the ferry-house was situated a half mile below, he paused and suffered the hounds to lead the way.  They ran a short distance up the ravine and halted at the edge of a small thicket, and commenced barking very fiercely as they scented the air under the bushes.

“I’ll bet it’s another bear,” said Joe, putting a fresh priming in the pan of his musket, and proceeding after the hounds.  “If it is a bear, ought I to fool with him by myself?” said he, pausing at the edge of the thicket.  “I might get my other ear boxed,” he continued, “and it’s not such a pleasant thing to be knocked down by the heavy fist of a big black bear.  If I don’t trouble him, he’ll be sure to let me alone.  What if I call the dogs off, and go back?  But what tale can I manufacture to tell Mr. Glenn?  Pshaw!  What should I fear, with such a musket as this in my hand?  I can’t help it.  I really believe I am a little touched with cowardice!  I’m sorry for it, but I can’t help it.  It was born with me, and it’s not my fault.  Confound it!  I will screw up courage enough to see what it is, anyhow.”  Saying this, he strode forward desperately, and urging the hounds onward, followed closely in the rear in a stooping posture, under the hazel bushes.