GLIMPSES OF WILD LIFE 127 



to feel it. The creature skipped to the other 

 corner of the doorway, hitting my hand with its 

 cold, rope-like tail. Lighting a match, I had a 

 glimpse of him sitting up on his haunches like a 

 woodchuck, confronting his enemies. I rushed 

 in for the lantern, with the hope of capturing 

 him alive, but before I returned, the dogs, grow- 

 ing bold, had finished him. 



O ' 



I have had but one call from a coon, that I am 

 aware of, and I fear we did not treat him with 

 due hospitality. He took up his quarters for the 

 day in a Norway spruce, the branches of which 

 nearly brushed the house. I had noticed that 

 the dog was very curious about that tree all the 

 afternoon. After dinner his curiosity culmi- 

 nated in repeated loud and confident barking. 

 Then I began an investigation, expecting to 

 find a strange cat, or at most a red squirrel. 

 But a moment's scrutiny revealed his coonship. 

 Then how to capture him became the problem. 

 A long pole was procured, and I sought to dis- 

 lodge him from his hold. The skill with which 

 he maintained himself amid the branches excited 

 our admiration. But after a time he dropped 

 lightly to the ground, not in the least discon- 

 certed, and at once on his guard against both 

 man and beast. The dog was a coward, and 

 dared not face him. When the coon's attention 



