190 FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



or the log falls and shuts him in ; tliey are used for all 

 sorts of beasts from Martens to Bears," said the Doctor. 



" Ah, I see I *A deadfall is a place that if you fall 

 into you die. Do House People ever fall into these 

 things ? " 



" Yes, sometimes, unfortunately, and in his knack at 

 keeping out of danger this Wolverine shows even more 

 ingenuity than man himself." 



" You have no Coons now ? I'm sorry, I wanted Nat 

 to see one so he would recognize it if he should come 

 across it in the home woods." 



" Nez I uncle ! daddy I Look quick, one of the 

 beasts has come to life and lias climbed up that beam 

 by the chimney," whispered Nat, suddenly jumping up 

 and getting behind his father. 



" Speaking of Coons, there is one now," said the 

 Doctor. " Is that a camp pet or a visitor from the 

 woods ? " 



'' He's a pet," said Nez. " He belongs to Dom'nik 

 and the Fox to Phonse ; we took him last May from an 

 old tree over by the pit, when we were cuttin' poplars 

 for charcoal. Keep still and maybe hell come down 

 and play with Foxey — lie does sometimes." 



The boys watched quietly for a few minutes. At 

 first the Coon, or Raccoon as he is really named, sat up 

 with his paAvs folded like hairy hands and watched 

 them. He was about two feet and a half high, his 

 body was covered with Avonderfully soft, deep, brindled 

 Woodchuck-colored fur, and tlie round tail that hung 

 nearly a foot below the beam was banded with gray 

 and black. His bright eyes and pointed face wore an 

 expression of innocence, and yet of great intelligence 



