SATAN THE RACCOON 



cious brute living. I could enter that cage 

 and handle those lions as I would kittens." 

 I did not dispute his assertion, and he asked 

 if the woods about Gloucester harbored wild 

 animals. I told him about my raccoon. He 

 suggested that it would please him to tame the 

 coon for me, and offered to accompany me 

 home. 



When the show was over I missed the lion- 

 tamer, but the next day he came down the 

 hill to the cabin, resplendent in his checkered 

 coat, crimson vest, and lavender trousers. As 

 soon as he had said good morning he threw off 

 his hat and coat and started the circus. He 

 fixed his gaze on the coon and slowly ap- 

 proached him, stamping his feet while he 

 cried, in a commanding tone, " Down, sir, 

 down, sir ! " Satan looked at the dude, then 

 looked toward me. This was something new, 

 and he wanted my opinon. When he found 

 that I remained quiet, he concluded to act 

 for himself. With a savage snarl he sprang 

 on to the dude and fastened his claws in the 

 lavender trousers. The dude, half-frightened 

 47 



