"Your mother wants you to be partickerly careful," said Jed to Giant. "She says she wouldn't know what to do if something happened ye."
"Tell her I shall take good care of myself," answered the small member of the club.
Jed Sanborn told them that everything was going on at Fairview as usual. He had some letters for the lads, which they read with interest. He said he would remain with them until the next morning, and promised to take back such letters as they might write.
"If you stay over you might as well go on a hunt with us," said
Snap, and then he related how their meat had been stolen.
"Wildcats did that," announced Jed Sanborn, after a close examination. "Two on 'em—-most likely mates. It will be a ticklish job trying to track 'em."
"Oh, we've shot wildcats before," said Whopper.
"Not the kind that's around here, my boy. These are the wildest and strongest kind. Howsomever, we can go after 'em if you say so. When do you want to start?"
"Have you had breakfast?" asked Snap.
"Two hours ago."
"Then let us start at once." And so it was decided.