298 THE COON SAFE. 



I understand our arrangements, we leave here in the morn- 

 ing at six." 



" Sold, by Moses 1" exclaimed Martin, as he broke out 

 into a roar that you might have heard a mile ; " I thought 

 the Judge meant something, by the time he wasted in 

 talkin' and gettin' ready to shoot." 



"Spalding,"- inquired Smith, "do you expect us to keep 

 this compact ?" 



" Of course I do," he replied; "did any of us peach when 

 you opened so rich in the matter of your bear ? Did any 

 one break his compact with you on that subject ? Absolve 

 us from our agreement about the bear, and you may take 

 my shot at that animal up hi the tree." 



" I wasn't born yesterday," Smith replied, " and I can't 

 afford to exchange the glory of killing the bear in my 

 own way, and having three responsible endorsers, for the 

 honor of shooting a coon. Gentlemen," he continued, " I 

 move that that coon be permitted to take his own time to 

 descend from his perch up in the tree-top there;" and the 

 motion was carried unanimously. 



