He found only one more victim to the half dozen traps.
Perhaps he had been too careless with the others and left plain traces of his presence that had warned the cunning rodents.
Having placed all his traps in the water again, he started back home, swinging the two "muskies" in one hand, while carrying his gun in the other.
After leaving the marsh he chanced to look back and was surprised to see a boy come out and start on a run toward the village.
Darry had very little acquaintance with the village lads, and could not make up his mind whether he had ever seen this fellow before or not; but once or twice he thought he detected evidence of a limp in his gait when he fell into a walk, and this brought to mind Jim and his two cronies.
It was not Jim, but at the same time there was no reason why it should not be one of his bodyguard, "the fellows who sneezed when Jim took snuff," as Mrs. Peake had said in speaking of the lot.
Suppose this did happen to be Sim Clark or Bowser, what had he been doing in the marsh?
Could it be possible that the fellow had been spying on him, and was now hastening to report to his chief?
They might think to annoy him by stealing the traps he had placed, or at least robbing them of any game.
Darry shut his teeth hard at the idea.