"What d'ye suppose he's found there?" asked Big Andy.
"Scent, and lots of it. No mistake this time," announced MacDonald. "Hain't ye caught on to Jim's signs yet?"
"Jim," said the Deputy, sharply but not loud, "fetch him!"
Jim, with nose in air instead of to the ground, set off at a gallop down the shore in the direction of the outlet.
The Deputy turned about.
"Dan," he shouted peremptorily. "Come back here. I want ye!"
Instead of obeying, Black Dan dashed up the bank, running like a deer, and vanished into the bushes.
"I knew it! That's the skunk, boys. Go home, you Billy!" cried Blackstock, and started after the fugitive. The rest followed close on his heels. But Jackson cried:
"Ye'd better call off Jim quick. Dan's got a gun on him."
The Deputy gave a shrill whistle, and Jim, who was just vanishing into the bush, stopped short. At the same instant a shot rang out from the bushes, and the dog dropped in his tracks with a howl of anguish.