516 BIG GAME OF NOKTII AMERICA. 



The dogs were scattered about, endeavoring to decipher 

 and solve the problem. One would mount a log; running 

 along upon it, and scenting it closely, he would find where 

 it had, in its course, crossed the log. Then he would throw 

 his head high in air, and give vent to a long-drawn wail, 

 when the other dogs would run to his aid, to take up, if 

 possible, the trail 



"But where is old Drummer^ He was here just before 

 we came up." 



This old hound, being up to the tricks of the Raccoon, 

 had struck off to make a wide detour on the outside, and 

 soon gave tongue, in a livelier tone, some one hundred and 

 fifty yards away, apparently leading toward a large swamp 

 or pond near a field of corn. He was soon joined by the 

 others of the pack; but the trail being cold, they could not 

 move off on it much faster than we could walk. Having 

 now got the general course the 'Coon had taken, they were 

 not hindered much when at fault, but would strike out in a 

 half-circle in that direction, and soon strike it again. 



"Yes, he's going for that pond, where he will play 

 awhile, and then he'll go over into that corn-field, where no 

 doubt he now is," said Fry. 



The hounds are working out his trail, and making good 

 headway; but occasionally coming to some burr-oak or 

 chinquapin, where the ' Coon had rambled awhile, they 

 would follow his windings and then strike out again. 



The pond was reached. Here the game had meandered 

 again. The dogs race back and forth through the shallow 

 water, and give tongue wherever they can find the scent. 



" Hark ! Old Spring has found him ! Just listen." 



Sure enough. She had tired of the slow work of trailing 

 him in detail, and had struck off into the corn-field. There 

 in the dense corn, where the falling temj)erature could not 

 so readily reach the ground, the track of the ' Coon was 

 apparently fresh; and now it was a regular Sioux war-cry 

 of " Hi-yi-ki-yi," in her fine voice. The other hounds hear- 

 ing her, and realizing the situation, there was a perfect 

 bedlam of hound-music. No time was lost in getting 



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