238 RACOON HUNT IN KENTUCKY. 



of his chest was painful to see. The hunters stood gazing at him in the 

 pool, while all around was by the flare of the torch rendered trebly dark 

 and dismal. It was a good scene for a skilful painter. 



We had now two coons, whose furs were worth two quarters of a dol- 

 lar, and whose bodies, which I must not forget, as Toby informed us, 

 would' produce two more. " What now,'' I asked — " What now," quoth 

 the father, " why go after more to be sure." So we did, the dogs ahead, 

 and I far behind. In a short time the curs treed another, and when we 

 came up, we found them seated on their haunches, looking upwards, and 

 barking. The hunters now employed their axes, and sent the chips about 

 at such a rate that one of them coming in contact with my cheek marked 

 it so, that a week after several of my friends asked me where, in the name 

 of wonder, I had got that black eye. At length the tree began to crack, 

 and slowly leaning to one side, the heavy mass swung rustling through 

 the air, and feU to the earth with a crash. It was not one coon that was 

 surprised here, but three — aye three of them, one of which, more crafty 

 than the rest, leaped fairly from the main top while the tree was stagger- 

 ing. The other two stuck to the hollow of a branch, from which they 

 were soon driven by one of the dogs. Tyke and Lion having nosed the 

 cunning old one, scampered after him, not mouthing like the well-trained 

 hounds of our southern fox hunters, but yeUing like furies. The hun- 

 ter's sons attacked those on the tree, while the woodsman and I, preceded 

 by Toby, made after the other ; and busy enough we all were. Our 

 animal was of extraordinary size, and after some parley, a rifle ball was- 

 sent tlirough his brain. He reeled once only, — next moment he lay dead. 

 The rest were dispatched by the axe and the club, for a shot in those days 

 was too valuable to be spent when it could be savfed. It could procure 

 a deer, and therefore was worth more than a coon's skin. 



Now, look at the moon ! how full and clear has she risen on the Ra- 

 coon hunters ! Now is the time for sport ! Onward we go, one follow- 

 ing the long shadow of his precursor. The twigs are no impediment, 

 and we move at a brisker pace, as we return to the hills. What a hue 

 and cry ! — here are the dogs. Overhead and all around, on the forks of 

 each tree, the hunter's keen eye searches for something round, which is 

 likely to prove a coiled up Racoon. There's one ! Between me and the 

 moon I spied the cunm'ng thing crouched in silence. After taking aim, 

 I raise my barrel ever so little, the trigger is pressed ; down falls the Ra- 

 coon to the ground. Another and another are on the same tree. OfF 



