Way-Atcha, the Coon-Raccoon 
pleasure of picking out the meat from the sharp 
bits of shell, washing them clean in the river, and 
gobbling them as a new kind of frog, and every- 
thing seemed very well to him. 
But father climbed a root and snuffed, sniffed, 
and listened, and mother studied all the smells 
and trails that were along the pathway farther 
from the river bank. She had had little time for 
hunting. Her secret sense was strong on her, and 
she gave the signal to return. 
SoM The youngsters followed very unwillingly. Way- 
Ey ¥ atcha was almost rebellious. There seemed in his 
y-. aan judgment to be every reason for staying and none 
“AN whatever for going home. But the best of judg- 
Oar: ment must yield to superior force. Mother’s paws 
were strong and father could be very rough. So 
the seven fur balls mounted the smooth maple stair- 
way as before. 
The Red Fox of the hillside yapped three times, a 
little song sparrow sang aloud in his dreams not 
far from the great maple, and the Coon mother 
heard without heeding. Then later came another 
sound, quite low and distant, feeble indeed. The 
young seemed not to hear it, but it set the mother’s 
hair on end. It was a different note, coming from 
anywhere in the north: the harmless wind made 
just such noises at times, but in this were also sharp 
100 
