There were many other dogs in Bayside and the surrounding districts who were just as likely to be the guilty animals , and Will hoped that if Don were shut up for a time , suspicion might be averted from him , especially if the worryings still went on . He had felt a little doubtful about hinting the truth to Curtis , who was a high-spirited lad and always resented any slur cast upon Don much more bitterly than if it were meant for himself . But he knew that Curtis would take it better from him than from the other Bayside boys , one or the other of whom would be sure soon to cast something up to Curtis about his dog . Will felt decidedly relieved to find that Curtis took his advice in the spirit in which it was offered . `` 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 do n't care ! '' he thought miserably . `` I know Don did n'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 XXXXX her , all from the Harbour , and their folks down there are pretty wild about the schooner . ''
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