192 FOUR-FOOTED AMEBIC ANS 



coriitields. An autumn Coon hunt was one of the 

 events of the year on the old phintations, and it is not 

 yet out of style." 



" Mammy Bun says Coon hunting is fine sport," in- 

 terrupted Nat. " She says the men go out with dogs 

 and axes and chase the Coons, and they generally run 

 up a tree, and then if the men can't shake the Coon out 

 of the tree, they cut it down and let the dogs fight the 

 Coon and shake it to death. I think that is a cruel 

 way to kill such a pretty fourfoot." 



'• I quite agree w^ith you," said the Doctor ; " it is 

 even more unnecessary than alloAving the Fox to be 

 torn to bits after he has run his best; for though the 

 Coon is very bright in some ways, he can be easily 

 trapped and the Fox cannot." 



"Everyone is sleepy," said Rap, presently; "the 

 Coon has gone to sleep, and the Fox too, all curled up 

 like a dog, and Olaf will nod himself into the fire in 

 another minute." 



" I think you and Xat had better climb into your 

 bunk in the corner and join them in dreamland," said 

 the Doctor. " You see Toinette and the little boys have 

 disappeared under their blankets in the other room." 



" The snow has stopped falling and the wind is drift- 

 ing it around at a great rate," said Mr. Blake, opening 

 the door as he spoke, when a great whirl of snowflakes, 

 like the branch of a fairy tree, slipped past him into the 

 cabin and turned to drops of Avater on the boards. 

 " Suppose we take a mouthful of air before we turn in. 

 Nez, Ave will go wdth you to put the Fox and the Coon 

 in their pens, and see if 3^our fur shop is safe." 



