At first, he thought his eyes were deceiving him, but a second look told him that there was no mistake about it.

He would have been glad to know if either of them had been injured by the hounds before they got there, but that was something he could not find out just then.

They had not been torn in pieces, as he feared, and that was a great comfort to him.
"They never had a closer shave, that thar is sartin," thought Dan, as he turned about and trudged toward home.

"I wonder what pap would say if he knowed what a smart trick I played onto 'em! I wish I could go an' tell him, but I am a'most afeared, kase he must be jest a bilin' over with madness.

He's lost the pinter--I reckon Dave must have stole him, kase I don't see how else he could have got him--an' I don't keer to go nigh him ag'in, till I kin kinder quiet his feelin's by tellin' him some good news 'bout them hundred an' fifty dollars." The events of this night were the last of any interest that transpired in the settlement for more than two weeks.