“Godfrey means to put a stop to all our fun if he can, doesn’t he?” said Bert, who thought that a man who would steal a canoe and spring a trap, would be guilty of any meanness.

“Let’s go home,” was Don’s reply.  “We’ll have another shooting-box here some day, Bert, and it will beat the old one all to pieces.”

The boys thought they had had hard luck that day, and so did their father, when he had heard their story; but they came very near having worse luck that night, and they never knew anything about it until several days afterward.  The General found it out the next morning.  He went to the fields at an early hour, as he always did, to set his negroes at work, and was met by the hostler, who had an exciting piece of news to communicate.  “Misser Gordon,” said he, “Misser Don’s hound dogs done treed two fellers down dar in de quarter.  Dey’s been dar all de blessed night top o’ dat ar house; yes, sar, dat’s what dey says, sar!”

The General replied that if the two fellows had come there for the purpose of stealing, he was glad of it, and said he would go and take a look at them.  When he saw them, perhaps he would know where the contents of his smoke-house had been going lately.  He rode down to the quarters as soon as his horse was brought out, and when he came within sight of the cabin in which the boys kept their captured quails, he saw two persons sitting astride of the ridge-pole and Don’s hounds gathered about the building, keeping guard over them.  The General could scarcely believe his eyes, although when he came to recall several little things which Don and Bert had told him, he was not so very much surprised after all.  The persons whom the hounds had forced to take refuge on the roof of the cabin were boys; and as soon as the General was near enough to them to distinguish their features, he saw that they were Lester Brigham and Bob Owens.

CHAPTER XV.

BOB’S ASPIRATIONS.

“I think it my duty to inform you that the parties to whom you have given your order for fifty dozen live quails will certainly disappoint you.  They did not seek the contract for themselves, but for another person, who knows nothing whatever about trapping, and who is much too indolent to put forth the necessary exertion if he did.  You will get no birds from him.  If, after waiting a reasonable time—­I should think two weeks would be long enough—­you become satisfied of this fact, I shall be happy to receive your order, and will guarantee you satisfaction.”

This was a rough copy of the letter Lester drew up to send to the advertiser in the “Rod and Gun,” on the evening of the day on which he held that interview with Don and Bert, when the former refused to join his sportsman’s club.  He read it to Bob in his best style and was astonished when his friend declared that it wouldn’t do at all.  “You seem to forget that I am working for a new shot-gun,” said Bob.  “The language isn’t half strong enough.”