THE RED COW 



rabbits though he has never managed to catch one. 

 The only way to find out whether he had in him 

 the makings of a coon-dog would be to try him. 

 After discussing the matter with an eager boy it 

 was decided that we would sneak away from the 

 house after all the chores were done and give Sheppy 

 a tryout. We would have to sneak in order to keep 

 the younger children from begging to be taken 

 along. Having laid our plans we managed to sneak 

 away about half past eight, after giving a warning 

 whisper in the right quarter that we might be away 

 for a couple of hours. Sheppy seemed doubtful 

 about the wisdom of taking a night ramble, but after 

 some coaxing he decided to come along. 



* * 5^ * 



We took the dog to our own corn-field first and 

 were gratified to see how thoroughly he entered into 

 the game. It was a dim night with the moon almost 

 hidden by thin clouds, but there was enough light 

 for us to see Sheppy racing over the cornfield in the 

 most approved manner of the coon-dogs of a bygone 

 age. He crossed and recrossed it thoroughly with- 

 out finding even a mouse if he had found one we 

 should have known for he is a gifted mouser and 

 often gets a mouse when crossing the pasture. When 



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