174 HUNTING DOG^. 



and almost the first thing I saw on looking into 

 tlie log was the trap. Pont soon had the 'coon 

 out, and when I saw it was the 'coon that had 

 escaped with our trap, I gave Pont praise for 

 what he had done, petting him and telling him 

 of his good deed, and he seemed to understand 

 it all. 



Not long after this Am came into camp at 

 night and reported that a fox had broken the 

 chain on a certain trap and gone off with the 

 trap, saying that he would take Pont in the 

 morning and see if he could find the fox. In 

 the morning when we were readj^ to go Am tried 

 to have Pont follow him, but it was no go, Pont 

 would not go with him. Then Am put a rope on 

 to him and tried to lead him, but Pont would 

 sulk and would not be led. Then Am lost his 

 temper and wanted to break Pout's neck again. 

 I said that I did not like to have Pont abused 

 and that I would go along with him. When we 

 came to the place where the fox liad escaped 

 with the trap Am at once began to slaj) his 

 hands and hiss Pont on. Pont only crouched 

 behind me for protection. I persuaded Am to 

 go on down the run and look at the traps down 

 that way while I and Pont would look after the 

 escaped fox. 



As soon as Am was gone I began to look 

 about where the fox had been caught and search 



