Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-01-06
arge, black animal, an object of the coon .

large, black animal, an object Of the COON
utter abhorrence, evidently.
Fresh growls greeted the appearance o
the intruder, who came stealthily forward
lie was n wicked-looking fellow, aud hsl
evidently hostile intentions.
| The coon rose TO his feet, lifted his bac,
like bear or a cat, and growled all tn,
while. The new conner crouched almost Il
| the earth. but continued to steal up to tn,
coon until within yard or two.
| There they stood facing each other, get
ting more angry every moment, and ev
IDENTIFY intended to have n big 'set-to' had
no wish to interfere, and was content tc
remain a spectator. The two thieves might
settle their quarrel between themselves
wasn't at all certain to which of them ]
stood indebted for an extra labor, and con.
cludcd to keep my charge for whichever o
them survived the fray.
The growls rose to shricks the fisher
for such judged it to be, wrggling his
black tail, and the coon getting his back
still higher. Then came a sudden grab,
quick as flash, and prodgious scutfle.
Over and over they rolled, graphing and
tearing now the gray taii would whisk up
in sight, then the black one. The fur flew,
and that strong, disagreeable odor, some.
times noticed when cat spits, was waited
out to my hiding place
1t was hard TO tell which was the best
lighter. Gray fur and black fur seemed to
be getting torn out in about equal snatches.
suddenly the coon got away from his anita
gonist, and running To the foot of q great
spruce tree, standing near, went like dart
up the trunk to the lower limbs. There he
faced about.
The fisher followed to the tree and looked
up. He SAW his foe, growled, and then
began to crawl after him. He was not so
good climber rs the coon, but scratched
his way up with true wcase! determination
The moment he came within reach, the
coon jumped at him. regardless of the
height from the ground. and fastened upon
his neck. The shock caused the fisher to
lose hold, and down both animals dropped
with tremendous force, sufficient to shock
the breath out of them, thought. But
they ciung to each other, and dug and bit
with the fury of maniaCs. CoOns are noted
lighters and as for the fishers, they never
give up while the breath oi life is in them.
Presently the coon broke away again and
once more ran to the tree, this time going
up its trunk, out Of sight, among the bran
chcs at the top. 1t looked as If he was get
ting all the li.ht he cared to have.
Nat 50 with the big wrazel. lie instant
ly followed his antagonist, clumsily clawing
his way up the trunk. 1t took him some
time TO rc"cA the top, hut he got there at last.
Another Grapple ensucd among the very
topmost 6oughs, and they both came lumb-
ling To the ground, catching AT the limbs as
they fell ; but graphing atrcsh, they rolled
down the ste,p p bank the edge Of the water
Meantime II had crown SD dark that |
could but just see their wriihing forms. The
growing, graphing sound continued, how
ever, and | could hear them splash in the
water. Then there came lull. One or
the other had given in, felt sure. Which
was the victor
Cooking my gun, crept TO the bank. AS
nearly as could make out the situation,
the Usher was holding the coon by the
throat.
l took a step forward. A twig sna, ped
under my foot. Instantly pair Of fiery
eyes glared up at me in the gloom and
with harsh snarl the fisher raised himself.
But the coon didn't STIR; he was dead.
1t seemed almost too had to shoot the
victor OF 50 desperate tight but thinking
of my traps, hardened my heart and tired.
The fisher reared up, fell over, then, re-
covering its legs, lcaped at me with all the
icrocity Of its blood-thirsty race. But the
heavy buck-shot had surely done its work.
and, with another attempt to spring at me,
the animal fell back dead.
| had no more trouble with my trans,