56 SPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



me, that the object of this horrible noise was to 

 frighten the raccoons from the fiekls of maize and 

 drive them to take refuge in the woods. " If we 

 were to hunt 'em in the corn," said my host, " we 

 shouki do more damage in half an hour, than all the 

 'coons in the district for a year are worth." 



Whilst we were talking, the two sons of Mr. 

 Danielson walked towards the kennel to let loose 

 the dogs, and a negro lit a pine torch, which was 

 intended to light us through the forest. Each was 

 furnished with a well-sharpened axe, and we set out 

 in the following order: the black first, whistling 

 and capering, the two sous, Mr. Danielson, and last 

 of all, myself. The farmer's sons Avere soon ahead 

 of the negro, who did not walk fast enough for their 

 taste. " Let 'em run on," said my host ; " they 

 must wait for us wheii they get to the spot ; if you 

 will take my advice, you'll walk carefully in my 

 track, don't stumble over the old roots in the 

 path, or over the trunks of the newly-felled trees, 

 and above all, don't entangle yourself in the hang- 

 ing branches. Take care how you carry your rifle, 

 or you'll lodge a ball in my head, if a twig should 

 happen to catch the trigger. Here, you rascal [this 

 to the nigger], bring that light here. Don't you 

 see that this stranger is not accustomed to night 

 wallvs in Kentucky." 



Whilst the father was taking all possible precau- 

 tion to save me from an uncomfortable tumble, the 



