A HERMIT'S WILD FRIENDS 



from the coon. He pulled in the chain with 

 his fore feet, which he used as hands. I would 

 say to him, " Pull in the chain. Pull in the 

 chain," and inside of a week he would obey 

 the order without the use of food. I think 

 he enjoyed the sport. 



The boys that visited my cabin thought 

 it great fun to play with Satan. They would 

 pull the chain out and watch the coon pull 

 it in. When Satan got tired he would coil 

 the chain and lay on it, and the play was 

 ended for the time being. After he had rested 

 awhile he would go on with the play. When 

 he was resting, if a boy offered to reach the 

 chain he would lay back his ears, growl, and 

 show his teeth. When he was ready to play 

 he would sit up on his hind feet, prick his 

 ears forward and look clever; then the boys 

 could reach under him and pull out the chain 

 without danger. 



One day, while the coon was chained to a 



stake in the dooryard, he killed a pet bird 



in a manner so cruel and crafty, that it caused 



me to name him Satan then and there. I had 



38 



