The party emerged at length upon the bank of the main stream, and turned upwards towards Brine's Rip. After they had gone about half a mile they rounded a bend and came in sight of a violent rapid which cut close inshore. At this point it would be obviously impossible for any one walking in the shallow water to avoid coming out upon dry ground. Tug Blackstock quickened his pace, and waved Jim forward. A sharp oath broke from Black Dan's lips. "I've been an' gone an' left my 'baccy-pooch behind, by the skunk's hole," he announced. And grumbling under his breath he turned back down the shore. Blackstock ran on, as if suddenly in a great hurry. Just where the shallow water ended, at the foot of the rapid, Jim gave his signal with voice and tail. He raced up the bank to a clump of bushes and began thrashing about in them. "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. Blackstock's lean jaws set themselves like iron. He whipped out his own heavy "Colt's," and the party tore on, till they met Jim dragging himself towards them with a wounded hind-leg trailing pitifully. The Deputy gave one look at the big black dog, heaved a breath of relief, and stopped. "'Tain't no manner o' use chasin' him now, boys," he decreed, "because, as we all know, Dan kin run right away from the best runner amongst us. But now I know him--an' I've suspicioned him this two month, only I couldn't git no clue--_I'll git him_, never you fear. Jest now, ye'd better help me carry Jim home, so's we kin git him doctored up in good shape. I reckon Nipsiwaska County can't afford to lose Mr. Assistant-Deputy Sheriff. That there skunk-oil on Dan's moccasins fooled _both_ Jim an' me, good an' plenty, didn't it?" "But whatever did he want o' my mitts?" demanded Big Andy. "Now ye _air_ a sap-head, Andy Stevens," growled MacDonald, "ef ye can't see _that_!" IV. The Trail of the Bear I