RACOON HUNTING, 51 



tallow, or damps it, then places it on the honeycombed muzzle 

 of his piece. The bullet is placed on the patch over the. bore, 

 and pressed with the handle of the knife, which now trims the 

 edges of the linen. The elastic hickory rod, held with both 

 hands, smoothly pushes the ball to its bed ; once, twice, thrice 

 has it rebounded. The rifle leaps as it were into the hunter's 

 arms, the feather is drawn from the touchhole, the powder fills 

 the pan, which is closed. ' Now I am ready,' cries the woods- 

 man. A servant lights a torch, and off we march to the woods. 

 ' Follow me close, for the ground is covered with logs, and the 

 grape vines hang everywhere across. Toby, hold up the light, 

 man, or we'll never see the gullies. Trail your gun, sir, as 

 General Clark used to say — not so, but this way — that's it. 

 Now then, no danger you see ; no fear of snakes, poor things ! 

 They are stiff enough, I'll be bound. The dogs have treed one. 

 Toby, you old fool, why don't you turn to the right ? — not so 

 -much. There, go ahead and give us a light. What's that? 

 who's there ? Ah ! you young rascals ! you've played us a 

 trick, have you. It's all well enough, but now, just keep behind 



or I'll ' In fact, the boys with eyes good enough to see in 



the dark, although not quite so well as an owl, had cut directly 

 across to the dogs, which had surprised a racoon on the ground, 

 and bayed it, until the lads knocked it on the head. ' Seek 

 him, boys !' cries the hunter. The dogs, putting their noses to 

 the ground, pushed off at a good rate. ' Master, they're making 

 for the creek,' says old Tdby. On towards it therefore we push. 

 What woods, to be sure ! We are now in a low flat covered with 

 beech trees. 



" The racoon was discovered swimming in a pool. The glare 

 of the lighted torch was doubtless distressing to him ; his coat 

 was ruffled, and his rounded tail seemed thrice its ordinary 

 size ; his eyes shone like emeralds ; with foaming jaws he watcJied 

 the dogs, ready to seize each by the snout if it came within 

 reach. They kept him busy for some minutes; the water 

 became thick with mud; his coat now hung dripping, and his 

 draggled tail lay floating on the surface. His guttural growl- 

 ings, in place of intimidating his assailants, excited them the 

 more, and they very unceremoniously closed upon him. One seized 

 him by the rump and tugged, but was soon forced to let go ; 



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