AN UNPLEASANT ROAD. 85 



behind than in front, and consequently his back was 

 arched. A racoon, when walking, places on the ground 

 simply the ball of his feet, like the dog ; it is only when he 

 is at rest that he supports himself with his claws. Owing 

 to this point tfappui he is able to move his body in a 

 manner at once vertical and oblique, a faculty which is 

 peculiar to him as well as to the squirrel. It is with his 

 fore-feet that a racoon carries his food to his mouth, and 

 keeps it within reach of his teeth. The racoon's fur is of 

 a reddish-brown on the sides, shaded with black over the 

 loins, and nearly white under the belly. The ears are 

 black, as well as the tip of the snout, while the cheeks 

 are of a bright red. From this description the reader 

 will see that he is an animal of a singular aspect, who 

 well deserves the digression which I have made in my 

 narrative. 



To my hunting companions in the forests of Kentucky 

 I hasten to return. 



Mr. Danielson's dogs had come upon a new scent, and 

 started in pursuit of it ; without the slightest hesitation, 

 they followed a path through the forest, and we kept in 

 their track as best we could, fighting with lianas, and 

 brambles, and sharp-leaved shrubs. The road was fully 

 as bad as my host had indicated. At length we arrived 

 in a marshy locality, where the ground was so miry that 

 we stumbled at every footstep. At one time I fell against 

 the trunk of a prostrate tree ; at another, a bramble 

 threatened the equilibrium of my hat and glasses ; next, 

 when I least expected it, I was brought to a complete 

 stand. My foot, or rather my boot, had sunk into a hole 

 formed by a couple of roots shaped like bootjacks, and I 

 was unable to extricate myself, until my companions had 



