6 Reminiscences of 



fall of snow when I sallied out with axe and gun with 

 two old, almost toothless dogs, the only ones about, 

 and after tracking a 'coon to a hollow tree I proceeded 

 to cut it down. No 'coon appeared, but while inspect- 

 ing the upper part of the decayed tree a large one in 

 its fright leaped out directly upon me. Down I fell in 

 confusion, and upon me the 'coon and my two old dogs. 

 To save myself I struggled hard, but the more I strug- 

 gled the more I seemed to be the centre of attack, and it 

 was an occasion of pleasant surprise when I succeeded in 

 removing myself from the conflict, when the dogs had dis- 

 abled the 'coon, to find I had received no bites, although 

 sadly scratched, and with my clothing badly torn. 



Wild turkeys aboimded in the neighboring for- 

 est, and their gobblings could often be heard at a dis- 

 tance in the early mom. Small-brained and stupid 

 as they are in many respects, they are nevertheless 

 very quick and alert to take alarm, and when dis- 

 tiarbed depend more upon their running than on flying. 

 Stupid they are to allow themselves to be trapped in 

 a rough structure of logs of a few feet in height, with 

 open spaces between the logs, but not sufficiently wide 

 to allow their egress. 



One part on one side is left open to a height of 

 twelve or thirteen inches from the ground. Com is 

 strewed plentiftiUy on the ground inside of the struc- 

 ture and in a stringing way leading in several direc- 

 tions from it. The turkeys, reaching the com leaders, 

 follow up and unsuspecting enter the open way to the 

 interior. After a while a sense of confinement occurs, 

 and one flies up to escape between the logs, and, failing, 

 gives panic to the balance, who lose their heads and 

 all become frantic in their efforts to escape in the same 



