"The dog," remarked Steve.
"Yes, what of Ajax?" questioned Jim.
"He acts different now."
"And from that you conclude what?" queried the trapper.
"Why, we're closing in on our game," Steve went on. "I've hunted enough to know how dogs show that."
"Fine! We'll give you credit for that point, Steve, because it's a fact," laughed the trapper, in a half-hushed way.
"Aw! I ain't quite such a silly as I look," remarked Steve.
"I should think not," said Max, and Steve hardly knew whether to take the observation as a compliment or the reverse.
"And, now, lads, we'd better stop talking," said Trapper Jim. "I reckon we're close enough on our man for him to hear us if we're noisy. And, perhaps, if he learned we'd nigh overtaken him, he might start off on the run."
So for some time they kept on in abject silence. Not a word was spoken, and save for the panting of the eager hound and the labored breathing of the trackers, all was still.