Frank, the Young Naturalist Part 20

We might relate many more interesting events that transpired before the hunting season set in; we might tell of the "tall times" the boys had whipping the trout-streams, of the trials of speed that came off on the river, when it turned out, as Archie had predicted, that Charles Morgan's sloop "couldn't sail worth a row of pins;" and we might tell of many more desperate "sc.r.a.pes" that came off between the bully and his sworn enemies the Hillers; but we fear, reader, you are already weary of the Young Naturalist's home-life, and long to see him engaging in his favorite recreations--roaming through the woods, with his gun on his shoulder, or dealing death among the ducks on the river.

Well, autumn came at length; and, early one chilly, moonlight evening, Frank and his cousin, accompanied by George and Harry, might have been seen picking their way across the meadow at the back of Mrs.

Nelson's lot, and directing their course toward a large cornfield, that lay almost in the edge of a piece of thick woods, about a quarter of a mile distant.

They had started on a 'c.o.o.n-hunt. Frank and Harry, who were two of the best shots in the village, were armed with their double-barreled shot-guns, and the others carried axes and lanterns.

We have said that it was a moonlight night, but, so far as a view of the chase was concerned, the light of the moon would benefit them but little; and the boys carried the lanterns, not to be able to follow the 'c.o.o.n when started, but to discover him when "treed," and to a.s.sist them in picking their way through the woods.

During a racc.o.o.n-hunt, but little is seen either of the dogs or the game. The woods, let the moon s.h.i.+ne ever so bright, are pitch-dark; and the dogs rely on their scent and the hunter trusts to his ears.

The 'c.o.o.n seldom strays far from his tree, and, of course, when started, draws a "bee-line" for home, and the game is for the dogs--which should be very swift, hardy animals, having the courage to tackle him if he should turn at bay--to overtake him, and compel him to take to some small tree, where he can be easily shaken off or shot.

But if he succeeds in reaching home, which he always makes in a large tree, he is safe, unless the hunter is willing to go to work and fell the tree.

The boys were accompanied by their dogs, which followed close at their heels. Lightfoot was about to take his first lesson in hunting, but Brave and Sport evidently knew perfectly well what the game was to be, and it was difficult to restrain them.

A few moments' walk brought them to the corn field. A rail-fence ran between the field and the woods; and two of the boys, after lighting their lanterns, climbed over the fence, and the others waved their hands to the dogs, and ordered them to "hunt 'em up." Brave and Sport were off in an instant, and Lightfoot was close at their heels, mechanically following their motions, and evidently wondering at their strange movements.

The boys moved quietly along the fence, and, in a few moments, a quick, sharp yelp from Brave announced that he had started the first 'c.o.o.n. The boys cheered on the dogs, and presently a dark object appeared, coming at full speed through the corn, and pa.s.sed, at a single bound, over the fence. The dogs, barking fierce and loud at every jump, were close at his heels, and both they and the game speedily disappeared in the darkness. The boys followed after, picking their way through the bushes with all possible speed.

The chase was a short one, for the dogs soon broke out in a regular, continuous barking, which announced that the 'c.o.o.n was treed. The hunters, guided by the noise, soon came in sight of them, standing at the foot of a small sapling. Brave and Sport took matters very easily, and seemed satisfied to await the arrival of the boys, but Lightfoot had caught sight of the 'c.o.o.n as he was ascending the tree, and was bounding into the air, and making every exertion to reach him.

Frank and Harry stood ready with their guns to shoot him, and the others held their lanterns aloft, and peered up into the top of the tree, to discover his hiding-place; but nothing could be seen of him.

The sapling had grown up rather high, and all objects outside of the circle of light made by their lanterns seemed to be concealed by Egyptian darkness.

"He's up there, I know," said Archie.

And, laying down his ax and lantern, he caught hold of the sapling, and shook it with all his strength. But it was a little too large for him to manage, and, although it swayed considerably, the 'c.o.o.n could easily retain his hold.

"Well," said Archie, "if he will not come down to us, we'll have to go up to him, I suppose."

And he commenced ascending the tree. Archie was a good hand at climbing, and had shaken more than one 'c.o.o.n from his roost, and he carefully felt his way up, until he had almost reached the top of the sapling, when, not wis.h.i.+ng to trust his weight on the small limbs, he stopped, and again shook the tree, and this time with better success.

There was an angry snarling among the branches above his head, and the 'c.o.o.n, after trying in vain to retain his hold, came tumbling to the ground.

Quick as thought the dogs were upon him, and, although he made a most desperate resistance, he was speedily overpowered and killed.

The boys picked up their prize, and went back to the cornfield. The dogs were again sent in, and another 'c.o.o.n was started, which, like the first, "drew a bee-line" for the woods, with the dogs close behind, and the boys, worked up to the highest pitch of excitement, followed after as fast as their legs could carry them.

The 'c.o.o.n had managed to get a good start of his pursuers, and he led them a long chase through a low, swampy part of the woods, to the top of a ridge, where the heavy timber grew; and when, at length, the boys came up with the dogs, they found them standing at the foot of a large maple fully ten feet in circ.u.mference.

"There!" exclaimed George, "the rascal has succeeded in reaching home.

Good-by, 'c.o.o.n!"

"Yes," said Frank, leaning on the muzzle of his gun, and wiping the perspiration from his forehead, "we're minus that 'c.o.o.n, easily enough, unless we wait until morning, and cut the tree down."

"Look here, boys," suddenly exclaimed George, who had been holding his lantern above his head, and examining the sides of the tree; "did you ever see a tree look like this before?"

As they moved around to the side where George stood, Archie called out,

"There must be a big nest of 'c.o.o.ns in here; the tree is completely skinned."

"Yes," said Frank, "we've accidentally stumbled upon a regular 'c.o.o.n-tree. There must be a big family of them living here. The tree looks as if some one had taken an ax and cleaned off the bark. But,"

he added, "finding where the 'c.o.o.ns have been and catching them are two very different things."

"What do you mean?" inquired Archie, "You don't pretend to say that the 'c.o.o.ns are not in the tree?"

"Certainly I do. I wouldn't be afraid to stake Brave against any little cur in the village that the 'c.o.o.n the dogs have just followed here is the only one in the tree."

"What makes you think so?"

"Why, now is their feeding-time, and all the 'c.o.o.ns in this part of the woods are in the cornfield. It wouldn't pay to cut down this big tree for one 'c.o.o.n; so let's go home and go to bed, and early to-morrow morning we will come back here and bag our game."

The boys agreed to this, and they whistled to their dogs, and started through the woods toward home.

The next morning, at the first peep of day, they again set out, and in half an hour arrived at the 'c.o.o.n-tree.

The boys knew that they had something to accomplish before they could secure their game, but they were not the ones to shun hard work. They had frequently cut down trees for a single 'c.o.o.n, and they felt confident that there were at least three of the animals in the tree, and they were willing to work for them.

Archie and George were armed, as on the preceding night, with axes, and, after pulling off their coats, they placed themselves on opposite sides of the tree, and set manfully to work. Harry and Frank stood by, ready to take their places when they grew tired, and the dogs seated themselves on the ground close by, with their tongues hanging out of the sides of their mouths, and now and then giving vent to an impatient whine.

The boys worked for an hour and a half--taking their turns at chopping--almost without speaking. At length the top of the tree began to waver, and a loud crack announced that it was about to fall. Frank and Archie were chopping, and the blows of their axes resounded with redoubled force, and the other boys caught up the guns, and ran off in the direction in which the tree was about to fall, followed by Sport and Lightfoot, and Brave stationed himself close behind his master, and barked and whined furiously.

A few st.u.r.dy blows finished the business, and the tree began to sink--slowly at first, then with a rus.h.i.+ng sound, and struck the earth with a tremendous crash. In an instant boys and dogs were among the branches. The 'c.o.o.ns--some of which were not injured in the least by the fall--scattered in every direction; and one of them--a fine, large fellow--bounded off through the bushes.

Frank discovered him just in time, and, fearing that he would lose sight of him, he hurled his ax at him with all his strength; but it went wide of the mark, and Frank started in hot pursuit. He was very swift of foot, and there seemed to be no limit to his endurance, but, in running through the bushes, the 'c.o.o.n had decidedly the advantage.

Frank was not slow to discover this, and he began to think about sending his ax after him again, when he heard a cras.h.i.+ng in the bushes behind him, and the grayhound pa.s.sed him like the wind, and two or three of his tremendous bounds brought him up with the 'c.o.o.n.

Frank knew very well that Lightfoot had something of a job before him, for it requires a very tough, active dog to "handle" a full-grown c.o.o.n when he is cornered. But Frank thought it was a capital time to judge of the grayhound's "grit;" so he cheered him on, and hurried forward to witness the fight.

As Lightfoot came up, he made a grab at the 'c.o.o.n, which, quick as a flash, eluded him, and, when the hound turned upon him, the 'c.o.o.n gave him one severe bite, when Lightfoot uttered a dismal howl, and, holding his nose close to the ground, beat a hasty retreat; and the Young Naturalist could not induce him to return.

During the fight, short as it was, Frank had gained considerably, and, as the 'c.o.o.n turned to make off, he again threw his ax at him, which, true to its aim, struck the 'c.o.o.n on the head, and stretched him lifeless on the ground.

Meanwhile Archie was endeavoring to secure his 'c.o.o.n, under rather more difficult circ.u.mstances.

As soon as the tree had begun to fall, Archie dropped his ax, seized a short club that lay near him on the ground, and, discovering a 'c.o.o.n making for the bushes, he started after him at full speed.

The animal appeared to run heavily, as if he had been partially stunned by the falling of the tree; and Archie had followed him but a short distance, when he had the satisfaction of discovering that he was gaining at every step. The 'c.o.o.n seemed to understand that his chance of escape was rather small; and, after various windings and twistings, commenced ascending a small tree. Archie ran forward with all possible speed, with the hope of reaching the tree before he could climb out of the way. The 'c.o.o.n moved but slowly, and Archie felt sure of his prize; and, as soon as he came within the proper distance, he struck a powerful blow at the animal, but he was just out of reach, and the club was s.h.i.+vered to pieces against the tree.

Archie, however, did not hesitate a moment, but, placing his hands on the tree, commenced climbing after him. The 'c.o.o.n ascended to the topmost branch, and looked down on his enemy, growling and snapping his teeth, as if to warn him that he intended to make a desperate resistance; but Archie was not in the least intimidated, and, reaching the branch on which the 'c.o.o.n was seated, he shook it violently, and the animal tumbled to the ground, and, as soon as he could regain his feet, started off again.

Archie descended as quickly as possible, and started in pursuit, hoping to overtake his game before he could again take to a tree.

There was an abundance of large trees growing in the woods, and, if the 'c.o.o.n should take it into his head to ascend one of them, Archie might whistle for his game.

The young hunter well understood this, and he "put in his best licks,"

as he afterward remarked, and, in a few moments, had almost overtaken him, and began to look around for something to strike him with, when the 'c.o.o.n, as if guessing his intention, suddenly turned and ran up a large tree that stood close by, and, crawling out on a limb, about fifty feet from the ground, he settled himself down, as if he had concluded to take matters more easily.

This was discouraging; and Archie seated himself on a log under the tree, and for a moment thought seriously of giving up the chase. But the 'c.o.o.n was a fine, fat fellow, and his skin would make a valuable addition to the museum, and, besides, he had followed him so far already, that he was reluctant to go back to his companions without him, and, on second thought, he concluded that he would _not_ go back unless he could carry the 'c.o.o.n with him.

He first thought of ascending the tree, but, after taking a hasty survey of it, he abandoned the idea. The tree was partially decayed; in fact, there was but one sound limb in it that Archie could discover, and that was about four feet above the one on which the 'c.o.o.n was seated, and stretched out directly over it.