“At the traps?” repeated the lad, in some confusion. “Why, what do you mean?”
“The traps have been dragged outside and scattered in all directions.”
“Oh, Mr. Washington! No, I had nothing to do with it. I’ve been asleep all the night.”
Dave followed his employer outside and saw that what Washington said was true—the traps were indeed scattered in all directions, and, what was even of more importance, the entire supply of meat, fresh and jerked, was missing.
“Who could have done this?” asked the youth. “I didn’t hear anybody about the camp during the night.”
“Nor I, David. But it has been done, and we are out the larger portion of our provisions.”
“Here are tracks in the snow, Mr. Washington. But they are the tracks of some wild beast. Would a wild beast dare to come so close, and with that camp-fire burning there?”
“A bear would—if he was hungry.”
“A bear! Do you think it was a bear made off with the meat?”
“I do not know what else to think, David. The provisions are gone, and those are the only tracks leading from the camp.”