He did not feel very highly flattered by the low estimate Bob seemed to put upon him as a "backer" in case of trouble with Don Gordon, and while he was trying to make up his mind whether he ought to let it pass or get sulky over it, he was unfolding and smoothing out the letter he held in his hand.

When he had made himself master of its contents, he said:-- "You come over and stay with me to-night, and we'll put our heads together and see what we can make of this.

I must go down to the store now, and I'll meet you here in half an hour.

That will give you time enough to go home and speak to your folks." Bob spent the night at Lester's house, and it was during the long conversation they had before they went to sleep, that they made up their minds that it was a mean piece of business to trap quails, and that nobody but a miserable pot-hunter would do it.

They adopted the dog-in-the-manger policy at once.