“Yes,” replied Herbert, “we are particular in regard to the company we keep. We’re rather shy of boys who steal and tell falsehoods.”
“I know what you mean by that,” said Tom, angrily, “and I’ll pay you for it, too. I am going to make things exceedingly lively for all of you this winter, if you only knew it. I’ll settle up all the little accounts between us in a way you don’t think of; mind that!”
As Tom gave utterance to this warning, he put spurs to his horse and galloped away, while our fellows returned to headquarters.
We spent an hour or two in talking over the events of the morning, and about eleven o’clock mounted our horses and started for the swamp.
We passed the time until three in the afternoon in riding about among the hills, visiting our traps, and you can imagine what our feelings were when we found that Tom Mason had already begun to carry out the threats he had made that morning.
Two of our traps had been robbed since Mark visited them at daylight, and as many more completely demolished.
How did we know that any of them had been robbed? By the feathers that were scattered about over the ground.
We found, too, that the thief had come into the woods by way of the bayou, for we tracked him to the bank, and found the place where he had landed from his canoe.
When we had visited all our traps in that part of the woods, we turned our horses’ heads toward the camp; and if you are one with the soul to appreciate such things, you will know how we enjoyed the pleasant sight that greeted our eyes as we entered a little valley among the hills, and found a commodious pole shanty and a roaring fire waiting for us.
We dismounted, and, while we stood warming our benumbed hands over the cheerful blaze, looked around on the preparations that had been made for our comfort.