1 74 PIONBEB UFE ; OB, 



troublesome to the settlements, for if they once 

 obtain a taste of a domestic animal they will prfcwl 

 around the settlement until July, when they can find 

 plenty of blossoms and berries, of which they are 

 very fond. As soon as nuts ripen they feed upon 

 them, particularly atoms, chestnuts and beechnuts. 



My first serious adventure with beats was when 

 1 was about fourteen years of age. Alexander Smith 

 and James McMullen had left my father's house to 

 hunt, and tracked seven raccoons tp their hole in the 

 rocks. Having no means of driving then out, they 

 returned home. The next day we prepared matches 

 and yellow pitch pine torches, and I accompanied 

 them. When we arrived at the hole, Smith and my- 

 self entered, while McMullen remained outside to 

 kill them as they emerged. The entrance for twenty- 

 five feet was nigh enough to admit our walking 

 upright, when it became narrower, and we were 

 compelled to creep upon our hands and knees. We 

 penetrated as far as neccessary, and then, throwing 

 in a lighted match, we lay still, waiting the result. 

 Four of the animals soon went past us, and the next 

 moment we heard the report of Smith's gun. Upon 

 ^arriving at the outside, however, we ascertained that 

 |he had not killed any of the animals, having become 

 | so much excited that he had fired at random. The 

 ; the next time Smith remained outside with the gun, and 

 McMullen entered the cave with me. We went in 

 about as far as before, threw our matches, and lis- 

 tened. In a short time I heard a noise that I thought 

 was produced by some animals larger than a raccoon. 



