84 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



weary scramble over every provoking obstacle, and the soli- 

 tary baying of a dog is heard again winding up the " cry." 



When we reach the " tree" this time, and find it is another 

 " feint," we are entirely disheartened, and all this excitement 

 and fatigue of the night reacting upon us leaves us utterly 

 .exhausted, and disinclined to budge one foot further. Old 

 Sambo comes up — he has watched with an astute phiz the 

 movements of the dogs for some time. 



"Thought dat ware a oU coon from de fust! Dat's a 

 mighty ole coon !" with a dubious shake of his head. " Ole 

 coon nebber run dat Ipng !" Another shake of the head, and 

 addressing himself to his "staff:" "Ole coon nebber run'ed 

 dis fur, niggers! ' Then turning to us^"Massas, dat a cat! 

 — 'taint no coon !" 



The dogs break out again, at the same moment, and with 

 peculiar fierceness, in full cry. " Come 'long, niggers ! — 

 maby dat's a coon — maby 'taint !" and off he starts again. 



We are electrified by the scenes and sounds once more, and 

 "follow, still follow," forgetting everything in the renewed 

 hubbub and excitement. Wearily now we go again over 

 marsh and quagmire, bog and pond, rushing through vines 

 and thickets and dead limbs. Ah, what glimpses have we 

 of our cozy home during this wild chase ! Now our strength 

 is gone — ^we are chilled, and our teeth chatter — ^the moon 

 seems to be the centre of cold as the ^un is of heat, and its 

 beams strike us like arrows of ice. Yet the cry of the dogs 

 is onward, and old Sambo and his staff yell on ! 



Suddenly there is a pause ! the dogs are silent, and we hold 

 up ! " Is it all lost ?" we exclaim, as we stagger, with our 

 bruised and exhausted limbs, to a seat upon an old log. The 

 stillness is as deep as midnight — the owl strikes the watch 

 with his too-whoo ! Hah ! that same hoarse, deep bay which 

 first electrified us comes booming again through the stillness. 



" Yah ! yah ! dat ole coon am done for ! Bose got he, 

 niggers — Gemmen, come on !" 



