278 ON THE EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS 
other old ’coons reached their trees and then 
jumped out into the water, easily outswimming 
the dog and escaping. 
That taught Wolf something. He was learn- 
ing about ’coons every night now! Accordingly, 
when it was the red eyes of Rastus at last which 
stared into the flash, and Rastus who went up the 
swamp maple overhanging the pond, Wolf was 
out up to his spine in the water, ready for the 
fall. Rastus, with his night-piercing eyes, saw 
this, and didn’t jump. The man had to climb the 
tree for him. He crawled out on a limb over the 
water, but a good shake and a sudden snap sent 
the ’coon down. He was fat now, weighing a 
full twenty pounds, and he couldn’t hold on 
against that snap. Into the water he fell with a 
splash, and Wolf with one bark of joy was at 
him. But that was the last bark he emitted. 
His master, hearing no sound but a splashing and 
churning of water, turned the flash downward 
and saw only white foam churning thirty feet out 
from shore, and what looked like Wolf’s back. 
He slid down the trunk, suddenly fearful for his 
dog, and waded out. The water was up to his 
