“Oh—I—er—well, I just want to tell ’em what happened. They may be anxious about us.” But Ned knew Harvey Brill had some other reason.
Jerry, Bob and Jim Nestor were greatly surprised on the return of the hunters, and more so when they heard the story. As for Professor Snodgrass, nothing seemed to worry him. He went on collecting his bugs, classifying them and making notes about them, as if nothing had happened.
“Don’t go too far away,” advised Mr. Brill to the little scientist, when the latter was about to start out again after hearing the story of the bear.
“Why not?” mildly inquired Mr. Snodgrass.
“Because I don’t altogether like the way those Indians acted,” was the reply.
“But don’t you think they were satisfied with the way you settled the dispute about the bear?” asked Jerry.
“Oh, yes, fairly so—as much as any hungry Indians could be satisfied. But those fellows are looking for trouble. They didn’t leave the reservation for fun, and they will be up to mischief sooner or later.”
“That’s right,” agreed Jim Nestor.
“Then what had we better do?” asked Jerry. “I can’t get the rudder in shape for another day or two. I’ve got to make a whole new part. We’ll have to stay here, for if we went up we’d just drift helplessly about. Is there any danger?”