Butte record., 1853-12-03
No. 4.
A coon HUNT STORY.

that abound With beech and other nuts
TO which the raccoon gentry are very
partial. OF course we sailed often with
the boys for night expedition, and sell
dom returned at about sunrise without
one of our achievements-they hardly
would bear publication We mean sim
ply to tell the exploit of some raw hands
that came into the mountains from
somewhat cityfrd village for the purpose
of astonishing US on our own ground
Their sporting appointments were GER
taInly ulexceptionable-lanterns, axes,
guns and dogs, all and every thing look
ed as if on purpose to do nothing but
hunt raccoons. The men were well fit
ted out, with boots above the knees, skull
caps, shooting coats and every thing cap
a-p'e to carry on sporting campaign.
The idlers of the village watched them
with gaping mouths; but the old hunters
looked auspiciously on their sleek dogs,
their fine clothes, and supercilious airs.
They paraded about so consequentially,
at last, that all resolved to let them 90
on their own way, and do their own hun
ting
The party waited impatiently for the
night to close upon the hills, when they
started for the mountains, boasting upon
the sagacjty of their dogs, which they
said would soon lead them to the coon
trees and lodges. OFF they started, each
man with lighted lantern, looking for
all the world as did the monks, probably
when Major Monsoon in Charles O'Mal-
ley, marched them in procession around
the ramparts fsome Spanish town, the
name Of which ended, we recollect, like
that of most Spanish towns in era, una,
or ossa. From the evident token that
the gentleman had no idea of hiding their
lights under bushels, the villagers Judged
that the expedition would do wonder
fully absurd things; and it was with some
impatience that many loungers sat up
for the purpose OF welcoming them home,
sometime between two at night and the
rising of the sun.
And return they did in course of time,
and such squad of looking beings we
never before saw. Some had lost their
caps, others the skirt of coat, and some
nearly every thing but their boot legs,
which, being of leather, had resisted the
encounter with briars and sharp rocks
pretty well, and to hear them tell their
'hair-breadth 'scapes,'' one could not
but wonder they did not lose their lives
too, jointly and severally.
"What luck'" was the londlord's re-
ply.
"Well," drawled out the man who ap-
parently filled the roll of Captain of the
party, ut was pretty good-we killed
four Of the confounded creatures.''
can, ! tell you what" said a pomp-
Gus little fellow, with an eye which some
wag present said he must run against a
knot hole, it was so black; 4 tell YOU
what, old cock, had terrible fight
with one of the brutes, and killed it SIN
glr-handed."
''How so,'' was the query.
'I'll tell you" We we're going thro'
a pasture, Indian file. 1 brought up the
rear swinging my lantern about careless
ly, when all at once | heard something
IN the brakes near me. ] started and
turned. just then the light of my Ian
tern fell upon something crawling off. !
followed and saw what it was. sBoys,n /
cried, "raccoon, as sure as | i've"
and with that made for him, for /
know'd I'd run him down Isprano for
1t, the others coming up, when all at
once | heard queer kind Of noise, such
as raccoons make when giving fight 1 sup
pose, and the man behind me fell yelling
as if he had been shot. I've got him. /
cried, and We rolled over ard over, the
creature doing his worst, until at last |
conquered him; and amt he whopper2
CLOCK at him." cried the overioyed
young gentleman, producing from his
game bag an animal at the sight of which
the spectators shouted, "By golly, a
shunk" "
"a skunk" gasped the poor fellow,
dropping the booty to the ground His
companions were thunders.ruck. GA
skunk! each cried in bis turn.
81 thought So" said the young man
who was said to have been hit
"Well y [ declare if that don't beat
all my mothers relations,' cried the
landlord, holding his sides to keep them
from bursting open with laughter. why,
do you mean to say, ye fellers, you don't
know what skunk is,''