He had hardly time to climb the bank and conceal himself in the bushes before Don's hounds were running about on the very spot where he had been hidden but a few minutes before.

Why was it that the hounds followed his trail as they would have followed that of a bear or deer?
Simply because they scented him before they reached the island, and because Godfrey took so much pains to keep out of their way.

Had he stood out in plain view while the boat was approaching, the hounds would have paid no attention to him.
"Well, he's gone," said Bert, and the deep sigh that escaped his lips as he uttered the words would have led one to believe that he was glad of it, "and now comes the hard work.

It's an all-day's job to build that trap." "It would be if we had to cut down the trees and trim off the branches," replied David; "but there is some timber in this drift-wood that will answer our purpose as well as any we could get ourselves.

Where are you going to build the trap, Don ?" "In there where his den is would be the best place, wouldn't it?
Now let's go after the axes; and while you and Bert are cutting the logs, I'll unload the boat and open a road through the cane, so that we can haul our timber in without any difficulty." The work being thus divided rapid progress was made.