THE STILL HUNT. 135 



under the eye. " That, I calkelate, is that ere bay'nit 

 dig. This is the last o' that settlement. Grey Wolf's 

 band got the old painter, and the cub I left thar in my 

 coat, so I've heern ; the t' other cub, the one I toted to 

 Tampa Bay, is this heyar, and that's all the painters thar 

 is round these diggins." 



Without precisely understanding the reasoning by 

 which Mike arrived at this last affirmation concerning a 

 wood that apparently might contain a thousand such 

 animals without any one being aware of it, I could not 

 help smiling at the particularity of his genealogical 

 knowledge of this family. 



" Thar's somewhar here about another varmint, and a 

 purtier one yet, though tain't of much account as a 

 fighter. I've seen his tracks and have promised his skin 

 to Lou Jackson, and ef he ain't a ghost I'll git him some 

 day, though I've been a month tryin' to find him." 



" What is the animal ?" 



"Tiger cat; a rael likely little critter; yaller with 

 black dabs. I reckon he's 'bout the size of a small 

 hound." 



" You were in a hurry to make your promises. How 

 do you know you can get it ?" 



" Because Lou Jackson wants it." 



" Could you get anything Lou Jackson wanted?" 



" I reckon," replied Mike, with the assurance of a man 

 that had never failed in any thing he desired with his 

 whole mind. 



" How long have you known Lou Jackson ?" 



