192 FOUB-FOOTED AMERICANS 



cornfields. An autumn Coon hunt was one of the 

 events of the year ou the old plantations, and it is not 

 yet out of style." 



" Mammy Bun says Coon hunting is fine sport," in- 

 terrupted Nat. '' She says the men go out with dogs 

 and axes and chase the Coons, and they generally run 

 up a tree, and then if the men can't shake the Coon out 

 of the tree, they cut it down and let the dogs fight the 

 Coon and shake it to death. I think that is a cruel 

 way to kill such a pretty fourfoot." 



''I quite agree with you," said the Doctor; "it is 

 even more unnecessary than allowing the Fox to be 

 torn to bits after he has run his best; for though the 

 Coon is very bright in some ways, he can be easily 

 trapped and the Fox cannot." 



"Every one is sleepy," said Rap, presently; "the 

 Coon has gone to sleep, and the Fox too, all curled up 

 like a dog, and Olaf will nod himself into the fire in 

 another minute." 



" I think you and Nat had better climb into your 

 bunk in the corner and join them in dreamland," said 

 the Doctor. " You see Toinette and the little boys have 

 disappeared under their blankets in the other room." 



" The snow has stopped falling and the wind is drift- 

 ing it around at a great rate," said Mr. Blake, opening 

 the door as he spoke, when a great whirl of snowflakes, 

 like the branch of a fairy tree, slipped past him into the 

 cabin and turned to drops of water on the boards. 

 " Suppose we take a moutliful of air before we turn in. 

 Nez, Ave will go with you to put the Fux and the Coon 

 in their pens, and see if your fur shop is safe." 



