OUT-VOOli COOKERY 79 



Mr. Blake drew in the horses, and they all listened 

 for several minutes. Tlie barking turned to a yelp 

 and then a baying, and almost at the same time a good- 

 sized beast, bigger than the largest Angora cat, with 

 a full tail, sprang from the bushes into the road, 

 stopped to listen, and then scenting the horses con- 

 tinued on its Avay through the bushes and disappeared 

 among the rocks, while the barking clog seemed to be 

 taking a zig-zag course in the opposite direction. 



" We have seen the Coon without leaving the wagon," 

 said ]\Ir. Blake, Avhipping up again. " He evidently 

 sprang from the tree across one of the brooks that feed 

 the river, and the dog has lost the scent." 



"It is a very queer animal," said Olive. "Father, 

 did you notice when it sat up to listen it looked like 

 a little Bear, in spite of its long tail ? " 



" That is not strange, considering that it is a cousin 

 of Bears," said the Doctor. 



" Coons are real clever," said Rap. " The one I had 

 could do ever so many tricks, and used its paws as if 

 they were hands." 



" What are Coons good for — to eat or wear ? " asked 

 Dodo. 



" Both," said the Doctor. " Their fur is soft and 

 prettily brindled, and if they are young, the flesh is 

 not unlike Rabbit." 



" jNIammy Bun says they used to have Coons down 

 where she lived, but their fur wasn't good for much." 



" The fur of an animal living in the South is never 

 as good as the fur of the same species living in the 

 North." 



" Why is that ? " asked Nat. 



