Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-13
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The sharp bark of dog could be family de-
tected, though, as 1t seemed, at distance,
almost out of hearing.
"Don't We hear old Loup2 She's freed a coon
shnre. Yer can trust dat dog all the time, an
neil neober tole yer lie" exclaimed the enthu.
siastic contraband.
The distance was so great and the yelp of the
dog so INSTRUCTED by the hills, that some trouble
was at first experienced In locating the direction
from which the sound came. Leaping to our
ieet and straining every faculty of hearing we
were finally convinced that it was up the ravine
10 the front. Then began a scramble over rocks,
bushes, briers, into gullies, over narrow Lodges,
up steep banks and through pools of water in
the exciting chase. Onward we went at randi
pace, every moment hearing the quick yelps of
Loup growing clearer and louder and more mu-
steal at every step. The blood coursed through
the veins with swifter speed, the pulse beat
quicker, and we cheered with the oudest as it
became more and more evident from the round
notes of Loup that she had freed some ''varmint'
of the four-footed species. Then came the Wig.
orous yelps of Fiier, as he Joined his mate and
| sent up his echoing cry.
| turning sharp point, bursting through q
| clump of grape vines and sapugs, and climb.
ing the sharp side of hill, we came upon the
halt-trantic dogs at the foot of TALL but rather
slender ash tree. The bark had been half
stripped from the roots by the teeth of the
hounds, that seemed thus to vent their rage
towards their nimble enemy, whose sharp claws
had conveyed him out of their reach. The vi
ctnity was thick With underground of hickory
saplngs, grape vines and oak bushes. What
ever animal might be In the tree above was con-
cealed by the bushy top, whose shadows were
only here and there pierced by the starlight.
Without hesitation the climbing George at
tackled the tree and went up like squirrel, The
dogs hushed their yelps and stood eagerly
gazing upward. We stationed ourselves around
the tree at different points, ready to pursue the
chase when the animal should lead out.
Up and up went the climber until he seemed
really small and almost hid. The top of the
tree now began to sway with the new and
unusual weight.
"Da he isl | see himl o yer gray-headed old
coOnl know yer! va, va, yai Way up in de
top, like yer spected we couldn't find YER
Dress yer heart honey, we done come arter YER
Dey waiting for yer below dar. Come out o
dar, now, you ringtailed 1armintP With such
CALCULATIONS the contraband, who had discovered
the coon i'll the top branches, began to shake
him loose.
Look out, down darl He mos loose. Sum-
thin drap directly and then skedaddle. o yer
ole pisen critter, dem dogs takin' yer pictur for
to carry homeI Da' he cump'
black spot suddenly darkened the air.
whizzing rush, then blow on the ground, and
with wild yells, mingled with the yelps of the
dogs, we made for the place where the coon had
fallen. He had gathered himself up and made
off through the bushes with the dogs in hot
pursuit. Back and forth for a few moments the
chase led, when finding that he was in close
quarters the coon again freed in tall oak. Up
again went bis pursuer 10 the top, where he
found HIM nestled in the branches. Again he
shook him out. Hardly had his coonship
touched the earth when Loup was upon him,
grasping him by the back. The other dogs rush
ed in.
Then the fight. Through the bushes, down
the hill, over logs and weeds, in the fence cor
ners and out again, fought and growled, and
scratched and yelled the coon and dogs, while
we made the air vocal with words of encourage
ment and wild excitement. The coon was
true grit, fifteen pound fellow. and tough as
leather.
"Hole him, Loud shake him, ole gall' shout.
cd the delighted darkey, Josh.
Catch him by the ears, Fiferl make him into
sassidge meatp yelled Yellow Sam.
"Hooray! dat's it, dat terrier know what he's
about jes hear him tar de ribsP said the third
cOntraband.
Full ten minutes the tearing fight went on.
The coon had the odds against him, but he was
game to the end. The yells, the bowls, the con-
fusion, the frantic struggle, the smashing of
bushes and briars were awful; but finally tena-
city and courage gave way, and that old coon
was laid out The hunt was over