"I have everything I want in the way of nails and boards," replied David, "but I--you know--may I see you just a minute, Don?" "Of course you may, or two or three minutes if you wish. Come on, Bert. I have no secrets from my brother, _now_," said Don with a laugh. "I kept one thing secret from him and got myself into trouble by it. If I had told him of it perhaps he would have made me behave myself. Now what is it?" he added, when the three had drawn up in one corner of the barn, out of earshot of the hostler. David was silent. He had made up his mind just what he wanted to say to Don, but Lester Brigham's sudden appearance and the threats he had made had scattered all his ideas, and he could not utter a word. "Speak up," said Bert encouragingly. "You need not hesitate to talk freely to us. But what's the matter with you? You look as though you were troubled about something." "I am troubled about a good many things," said David, speaking now after a desperate effort. "In the first place, there are two fellows here who say I shan't trap any birds." "Who are they?" demanded Don, surprised and indignant. "My brother Dan is one of them." "Whew!" whistled Don, opening his eyes and looking at Bert. "I didn't want him to know anything about it," continued David, "for I was certain that he would make me trouble; but he found it out by listening while I was talking about it, and wanted to join in with me. I told him I didn't want him, and he said I shouldn't catch any birds." "Did he say what he would do to prevent it?" asked Bert. "O, it's easy enough to tell what he will do," exclaimed Don. "He'll steal or break the traps and kill the quails. There are plenty of ways in which he can trouble us, if he makes up his mind to it." "Who is the other?" asked Bert. "Lester Brigham." Don whistled again, and then looked angry. "When did you see him, and what did he have to say about it?" he asked. "Has he any reason to hold a grudge against you?" "I didn't know that he had until I met him in the road this morning. He says he won't have me trapping quails and sending them off North, because it will make them scarce here. He says he is going to get up a Sportsman's Club among the fellows, and then he will keep pot-hunters like me where we belong." "Oho!" exclaimed Bert. "It seems to me that he is taking a good deal upon himself."