a little reflection, he felt more like defying Dan and Lester both.  What business had either of them to interfere with his arrangements, and say that he should not earn an honest dollar to give his mother, if he could?  None whatever, and he would succeed in spite of them.  He would get that grocery bill off his hands the first thing, and when he was square with the world, he would go to work in earnest and outwit all his foes, no matter how numerous or how smart they might be.  He would tell Don all about it and be governed by his advice.

Having come to this determination, David once more, turned his face toward the General’s house.  A few minutes’ rapid walking brought him to the barn and there he found the boy he wanted to see.  The brothers had just returned from a short ride—­Don was not yet strong enough to stand his usual amount of exercise—­and having turned the ponies over to the hostler, were on the point of starting for the house, when David came in.

“Halloo, Dave!” exclaimed Don, who was always the first to greet him.  “Traps all built?”

“Not yet,” answered David, trying to look as cheerful as usual.

“You have plenty of nails and timber, I suppose.  If not come straight to us.  It will never do to let this thing fall through for want of a little capital to go on,” said Don, who was as much interested in David’s success as though he expected to share in the profits of the enterprise.

“I have everything I want in the way of nails and boards,” replied David, “but I—­you know—­may I see you just a minute, Don?”

“Of course you may, or two or three minutes if you wish.  Come on, Bert.  I have no secrets from my brother, now,” said Don with a laugh.  “I kept one thing secret from him and got myself into trouble by it.  If I had told him of it perhaps he would have made me behave myself.  Now what is it?” he added, when the three had drawn up in one corner of the barn, out of earshot of the hostler.

David was silent.  He had made up his mind just what he wanted to say to Don, but Lester Brigham’s sudden appearance and the threats he had made had scattered all his ideas, and he could not utter a word.

“Speak up,” said Bert encouragingly.  “You need not hesitate to talk freely to us.  But what’s the matter with you?  You look as though you were troubled about something.”

“I am troubled about a good many things,” said David, speaking now after a desperate effort.  “In the first place, there are two fellows here who say I shan’t trap any birds.”

“Who are they?” demanded Don, surprised and indignant.

“My brother Dan is one of them.”

“Whew!” whistled Don, opening his eyes and looking at Bert.

“I didn’t want him to know anything about it,” continued David, “for I was certain that he would make me trouble; but he found it out by listening while I was talking about it, and wanted to join in with me.  I told him I didn’t want him, and he said I shouldn’t catch any birds.”