88 MOVING AHEAD. 



and held the poor dog, who howled terribly, without ven- 

 turing on the slightest effort to release himself. 



The racoon now appeared to think the victory was 

 his. With an expression of joy he anticipated his re- 

 venge ; but, suddenly, the other dogs, perceiving they 

 had nothing further to dread from his bites, sprang simul- 

 taneously upon him, and worried him after a struggle of 

 about ten minutes. The racoon, however, had not loosed 

 his hold, ami even, in his last bitter moments retained 

 his prisoner with his teeth, until, at length, one of Mr. 

 Danielsoii's sons split his head with a blow from a, hatchet. 



So far our adventure had been successful. We had 

 already captured two racoons, whose skins would be 

 worth about a dollar a-piece, and the flesh about half that 

 amount, as the negro Dolly who estimated everything 

 by its value in pence and shillings informed me. 



I now thought -I, a poor European, unaccustomed to 

 the fatigue of so protracted a hunt that we should 

 return to the house, and warm ourselves at our host's 

 tire ; but the Messrs. Danielson and their slave had no 

 such intention. 



" We have good luck, my friend," cried the farmer, 

 " and let us make the best of it ; move ahead ! " 



The hounds had already resumed their course, and 

 soon they winded another beast, who, darting forward, 

 hastened to scale the trunk of a great tree. When we 

 arrived at its foot, it was a tulip-tree, all the dogs, 

 seated on their hind-legs, with their heads in the air, 

 were barking furiously. 



Dolly, assisted by Mr. Danielson's sons, began, without 

 the least delay, to fell the tree with his lusty axe. 



