He did manage, however, to turn his head and look in the direction from which the voice sounded, and saw his father standing a little way off, with his rifle on his shoulder and a squirrel in his hand.
"Dave!" exclaimed the latter, so surprised that he could scarcely speak.
"Yes, it's Dave," replied the boy, who saw that the battle for which he had prepared himself was likely to come off after all.
"What business you got up here, an' how come you by that pinter pup ?" demanded Godfrey.
"My business up here was to get the dog.

I found him in your camp, and I cut him loose because I have a better right to him than you have." "Wal, we'll see 'bout that thar," returned Godfrey, throwing down his squirrel and leaning his rifle against the nearest tree.

David's face grew pale, for he knew what was coming now.

His father's next move would be to reach for a hickory.
"Who told you I was up here ?" demanded Godfrey, and David's uneasiness increased when he saw that his father was running his eyes over the bushes nearest him.

He was picking out a good stout switch.
"No one told me," answered David.
"Then how did you know whar I was ?" "I was up here with Don and Bert on the day you swam the bayou, and I saw you just after you had climbed the bank and were dodging into the bushes." "Don't you think you was a very grateful an' dutiful' son to hunt your poor ole pap outen a good hidin'-place an' make him take to the water like a hounded deer, in this cold weather too, an' my rheumatiz so bad ?" asked Godfrey, angrily.