Then Robin growled, deep down in his throat. He had not settled down again on his bed, but sat up watching Nell's promenade. He had lifted his muzzle and sniffed the air with a delicate, sensitive movement as though he were feeling something very gently.
Then he growled--very low and deep.
CHAPTER II
A SURPRISE THAT BRINGS SUSPICION
David sprang to his feet and moved towards the door. Neither he nor the girl said or thought for an instant it might be the missing man, because they knew the dog would not have growled in that case.
It was either a stranger or someone Robin was not fond of.
In a few seconds the crunch of snowshoes came to their ears, and then there was a heavy knock on the door.
David gripped Robin by the skin of his neck. The bristles were standing up along his back, and the boy's hold would have been but a slight check had not the animal been very obedient; he was never savage like a husky. As Nell went forward to the door she shifted into convenient position the little automatic pistol that her father insisted on her wearing at all times.
"Who's there?" she asked, as the knock came again.
"Friend, miss," answered a voice from outside. "News of your dad."