“Because it’s too risky, that’s why.”
“Injun go in,” Kernertok grunted getting down on his hands and knees.
“Nothing doing,” Bob declared sharply catching him by the shoulder.
They had been speaking in whispers but now Bob said in a loud voice:
“Let’s go back and come and dig him out in the morning when we can see.”
“I guess that’ll be the best way,” Jack agreed quick to grasp his brother’s plan.
In a low whisper Bob explained his idea to the Indian who grunted a low assent. But Sicum did not so readily fall in with the plan and it took the Indian some time to convince him that he knew what was best. The dog knew that his quarry was in that hole and he could not understand why he should leave it. But finally he allowed his master to lead him off into the woods but not without many a backward look and many a low protesting whine. It was a new experience to him, this giving up and it was plain that he did not approve of it.
“Never mind, old fellow, we’ll get him,” Bob said stroking the gray head.
They made much noise as they left but, after going only a short distance they crept softly back until they were only a few feet away from the hole, where they crouched behind a thick clump of bushes. Sicum, as though realizing that, after all, the game was not up, had ceased his whining and seemed content.
“We’ll probably have to wait till day light,” Bob whispered, “so I’ll watch here and you can get back a bit and get some sleep.”