“Go find um,” he ordered.
There was no sign of the spot on the wall as Bob, the last to leave the room, turned his head for a glance back.
The dog, as though understanding exactly what was expected of him, put his nose to the ground and made a complete circle of the cabin. This he repeated again and again, each time widening the circle until he was at the edge of the woods. But he had failed to pick up the scent and announced the failure by a low whine.
“Try um in woods,” his master ordered.
The dog led the way about thirty feet into the forest and then started off to the right. He had gone but a few yards, however, when he uttered a low deep growl.
“He got um,” the Indian grunted. “Go get um, Sicum.”
With a sharp bark of eagerness the dog bounded off in the direction of the hill only a few rods distant and Kernertok had his hands full holding on to the leash. The boys followed close behind using their flash light freely.
Straight up over the hill the dog led them without a pause and down the other side. A little way from the foot of the hill they struck a small brook and the dog stopped with a whine.
“He take to water,” Kernertok explained. “No smell um.”
They crossed to the other side and Kernertok ordered the dog to go up stream. They pressed on for the better part of a half mile but Sicum failed to again pick up the trail.