It may be said that Zip had become the hero of the Boy camp on Gosling Lake. He belonged to the finest breed of bloodhounds in the world and had given an illustration of that gift of his species which approaches the . The stories told by his master of his other exploits, and of what had been done by his kind on Long Island and elsewhere, were absorbingly interesting. As young Burton remarked, his study of this species had given him more knowledge than could have been the case otherwise, and he naturally did most of the talking on that cool August night in front of the . The bloodhound is one of the most of dogs, and resents anything in the nature of familiarity by strangers. Alvin, Chester, Mike and several others tried to make friends with Zip, but he showed them plainly that he preferred to be left to himself.  
“Ef it was meself that was as partic’lar as him to selict me associates,” said Mike, “I should faal lonely, as Jim O’Toole remarked after he had been lost for six weeks in the woods. I’ll remimber yer coolness, Zip,” he added, shaking his finger at the dog nestling at the feet of Burton, “and to-morrer ye’ll faal so ashamed, after ye try to match wits wid me, that ye’ll resign as a bloodhound and become a poodle dog for the rist of yer days.”
 
“Don’t boast too soon,” said the guest; “I’ll put my stake on Zip every time.”
 
“And so will I,” added Alvin; “if Mike was half as smart as he thinks he is, we should all be fools compared with him.”
 
“Some folks don’t naad the comparisin to show they’re lacking in the first ilimints of sense,” retorted the Irish youth with fine .
 
It was quite late when the boys for the night. No one would have objected to the presence of Zip in the bungalow, but his master preferred that he should spend the night outdoors, and he was waiting there the next morning when Burton, the first to arise, came out to have a with him before breakfast.
 
It was about eight o’clock that the whole party of Boy including their guest gathered on the front porch, eagerly interested in the test that was to be made of the skill of Zip the bloodhound in following a . Every one was on the qui vive, for the novelty of the appealed to them.
 
The arrangements, simple of themselves, had been made while the party was at breakfast. Three trials were to take place, involving that number of Boy Scouts. Each was to into the woods and use every device possible to hide his trail from the dog, which was to take up his task an hour after the , as he may be called, left the bungalow.
 
The first runner was the Isaac Rothstein, the second, the tall, long-limbed Hoke Butler, and the third Mike Murphy.
 
“There is only one condition,” said young Burton, when everything was ready; 228“you must not make any use of the lake. Zip can track you only to the edge.”
 
“The lake is the only water shut out?” remarked Hoke Butler inquiringly. The guest hesitated a moment, suspecting some intended trick by the questioner.
 
“That is all.”
 
“How about the Sheepscot River?” asked Mike.
 
“If an hour’s start will enable you to reach that stream ahead of Zip, you win.”
 
Scout Master Hall turned to Isaac, who was in the middle of the group on the porch. The bright-eyed youth nodded.
 
Burton to the hound which, knowing what was expected of him, came forward and around the Boy Scout’s feet and ankles. He did this for only two or three seconds, when he backed off and took his place beside his master.
 
“That means he is ready if you are.”
 
“I am to have an hour’s start?”
 
“More if you wish it.”
 
“That’s enough, and you are sure he will not attack me?”
 
“Have no fear of that, but I suggest that you do not him.”
 
“What do you mean by that?” asked young Rothstein.
 
“Don’t tackle him first; and when he comes up with you, as he is sure to do, stop running. The Belgian dogs have a trick of between the legs of a fugitive and tripping him, but the bloodhound prefers to drag him down.”
 
“In other words,” said Mike, “whin the dog gits ye down, and has his paws on yer breast, and is hunting out the best place to begin his feast, h’ist the flag of .”
 
Isaac, accompanied by Scout Master Hall and several of the boys, passed into the bungalow, closing the door behind them, and went out of the rear door which was also shut. The dog remained on the front porch with his master and the other scouts, each party out of sight of the other. A few minutes later, Isaac’s friends rejoined their comrades, Burton and several of the Scouts glancing at their watches to note the time. Zip lay at his owner’s feet, with his nose between his paws, as if intending to pass the in sleep.
 
Before starting, Isaac was asked to explain his plan. He replied that it was merely to do everything he could to puzzle his pursuer, and he was confident of succeeding. It was useless to make any effort at the start, and he walked away at his ordinary pace, quickly disappearing among the trees.
 
The moment, however, he was out of sight he began the precautions he had upon before starting. He turned at right angles, walked rapidly for a hundred yards, then changed again to the same extent. Since the shift each time was to the right, this made an exact reversal of the course upon which he set out, and being kept for a little while took him back to the bungalow, a rod or two from his starting point. No one saw him, since every one was at the front. Thus he made a second get away, which delayed him for a few minutes.
 
Isaac , for he was sure he had played a cute trick upon the dog, which he believed would be puzzled , and yet you and I can readily see that there was “nothing in it” at all.
 
Again the youth dived in among the trees, or broke into a rapid run, going 231straightaway, but taking as long steps as he could. Then he zig-zagged, first to the right and left, describing irregular circles which assuredly would have led him a............