“Do you know that that thought has been in my mind all the while?” returned Bert.  “Who is the thief?”

“I give it up.  If he lives about here he’s foolish to steal my dog, for he never can use him in hunting.  There isn’t a man or boy in the settlement but would recognise him the moment he saw him.”

“Perhaps he was stolen in the hope that a reward would be offered for his return,” suggested Bert.

“Well, there’s something in that.  But after all,” added Don, a few minutes later, “there isn’t so much in it, for how could the thief return the dog without making himself known?  Still I hope it is so—­that is, if the dog was stolen—­for rather than lose him, I’ll give ten dollars to anybody who will bring him back to me, and ask no questions.  If I have to do that it will ruin me, for it will take my last cent.”

The ringing of the supper bell put a stop to their conversation for the time being, but it was resumed as soon as the family were gathered about the table.  Various explanations were offered for the pointer’s absence, and when that matter had been talked over, the events of the day were brought up for discussion.  Bert acted as spokesman, and when he told how the hounds had driven the bear from his den and forced him to swim the bayou, Don was surprised to see that his father smiled as if he did not quite believe it.  “It’s the truth, every word of it,” said Don, almost indignantly.

“O, I don’t doubt that you found something on the island and drove it off,” replied the General, “but I don’t think it was a bear.”

“What was it?” asked Don.

“It was something you will not be likely to catch in your trap.  It was Godfrey Evans.”

Don dropped his knife and fork, and settled back in his chair.  “We saw tracks in the mud that did not look to me like bear tracks, that’s a fact,” said he.  “If that was Godfrey, he’s the one who stole our canoe.”

“Then we have had all our trouble for nothing,” said Bert.

“Perhaps not,” replied his father.  “The island has been much frequented by bears ever since I can remember, and it may be that your labor will be rewarded in a day or two.  It might be well for you to watch your trap at any rate.  If you should happen to catch a young bear, that you could bring home alive, Silas Jones would give you twenty dollars for it.  That would be a big addition to David’s little capital, for of course you wouldn’t want any of the money.”

“Of course not.  All we want is the fun of catching the bear.”

Don and Bert were up the next morning before the sun, as they always were, and as soon as they were dressed, they went out to the shop and found David there busy with his traps.  He knew where the key was kept, under the door-step, and at the first peep of day he had let himself in and gone to work.  Of course the first questions that were asked and answered were in regard to the missing pointer, but no one had seen or heard anything of him.  David seemed to take the loss very much to heart.  The animal was a valuable one, and he felt that he was in some degree responsible for his safe-keeping.