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“Who have lost sheep lately?” queried Curtis, as they left the main road and struck into a wood path through the ranks of beeches on Tom Grier’s land.

“Nearly everybody on the Hollow farms,” answered Will. “Until last week nobody on the Hill farms had lost any. But Tuesday night old Paul Stockton had six fine sheep killed in his upland pasture behind the fir woods. He is furious about it, I believe, and vows he’ll find out what dog did it and have him shot.”

Curtis looked grave. Paul Stockton’s farm was only about a quarter of a mile from the Locksley homestead, and he knew that Paul had an old family grudge against his Uncle Arnold, which included his nephew and all belonging to him. Moreover, Curtis remembered with a sinking heart that Wednesday morning had been one of the mornings upon which Don was missing.

“But I don’t care!” he thought miserably. “I know Don didn’t kill those sheep.”

“Talking of old Paul,” said Will, who thought it advisable to turn the conversation, “reminds me that they are getting anxious at the Harbour about George Finley’s schooner, the Amy Reade. She was due three days ago and there’s no sign of her yet. And there have been two bad gales since she left Morro. Oscar Stockton is on board of her, you know, and his father is worried about him. There are five other men on her, all from the Harbour, and their folks down there are pretty wild about the schooner.”

Nothing more was said about the sheep, and soon, in the pleasures of chestnutting, Curtis forgot his anxiety. Old Tom Grier had called to the boys as they passed his house to come back and have dinner there when the time came. This they did, and it was late in the afternoon when Curtis, with his bag of chestnuts over his shoulder, walked into the Locksley yard.

His uncle was standing before the open barn doors, talking to an elderly, grizzled man with a thin, shrewd face.

Curtis’s heart sank as he recognized old Paul Stockton. What could have brought him over?

“Curtis,” called his uncle, “come here.”

As Curtis crossed the yard, Don came bounding down the slope from the house to meet him. He put his hand on the dog’s big head and the two of them walked slowly to the barn. Old Paul included them both in a vindictive scowl.

“Curtis,” said his uncle gravely, “here’s a bad business. Mr. Stockton tells me that your dog has been worrying his sheep.”

“It’s a–” began Curtis angrily. Then he checked himself and went on more calmly.

“That can’t be so, Mr. Stockton. My dog would not harm anything.”

“He killed or helped to kill six of the finest sheep in my flock!” retorted old Paul.

“What proof have you of it?” demanded Curtis, trying to keep his anger within bounds.

“Abner Peck saw your dog and Ventnor’s running together through my sheep pasture at sundown on Tuesday evening,” answered old Paul. “Wednesday morning I found this in the corner of the pasture where the sheep were worried. Your uncle admits that it was tied around your dog’s neck on Tuesday.”

And old Paul held out triumphantly a faded red ribbon. Curtis recognized it at a glance. It was the ribbon his little cousin, Lena, had tied around Don’s neck Tuesday afternoon. He remembered how they had laughed at the effect of that frivolous red collar and bow on Don’s massive body.

“I’m sure Don isn’t guilty!” he cried passionately.

Mr. Locksley shook his head.

“I’m afraid he is, Curtis. The case looks very black against him, and sheep-stealing is a serious offence.”

“The dog must be shot,” said old Paul decidedly. “I leave the matter in your hands, Mr. Locksley. I’ve got enough proof to convict the dog and, if you don’t have him killed, I’ll make you pay for the sheep he worried.”

As old Paul strode away, Curtis looked beseechingly at his uncle.