The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-03
ON THE PLANTATION.
A Story Of a Georgia Boys Adven.
lures During the War.
~ JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS
Schpyriek 1891. b. Tel cAasd1sy BarrtlJ
CHAPTER yII.-tConcluded.)

tCnpT4A 1901. " Jed ChnNhsy Hawai-
CHAPTER vII.%Concluded.)
Raising his torch aioft, Jim.Polk sprane for.
ward aftor the dogs closely followed by Joe
Maxwell and Harbert, while Mr.. snelson
brought up the rear. Tho clever printer was
not woodsman. and he made his way through
the underground and among the trees with
great difficulty. Once. when he paused for q
moment to disentange his legs from tho en-
brace Of o bamboo brier. he found himself left
fAr In tho rear. and he yelled Justify to his
companions.
Mother Of Moses," he exclaimed at tho top
Of his voice. will 70 be after leavin' me in the
wilderness7
But for the quick ear Of Hsrbert ne would
assuredly have boon left The other hunters
waited for him. nnd he came up pufang and
blowing.
II could cut . cord o. wood Wit half tho OF.
ertion" he exclaimed. Come. boysi let's cit
down an have an understandin'. Me legs and
me whole body polite have begun for to cry
out ngln this harum-scarum performance.
Shall ye 60 slower. or shall 70 pick me up an
carry MOI"
The boys wore willing to compromise but in
tho ardor Of tho chase they would have forgot
ten Mr.. Snelson II that worthy gentleman had
not made his presence known by yelling at
them whenever they got too for ahead. The
dogs ran straight down the creek for mile at
full speed. Suddenly Jim. Polk cried out:
-They've treed!'
"Yasserr' said Harbert with loud whoop:
"dey mos sholy isl'
"Then." snid Mr.. snelson. sarcastically.
"the fun is all over-the Jig Is up. IT'S thou.
snnd pities."
"Not muchr exclaimed Jim-Polk "The
fun's Just begun. A coon amt kotoh Jest be-
cause he's UP a trec."
well. sir" said Mr.. snelson. with . serious
air. III they've got wings. upon me soul. We
should have fetched a balloon"
When the hounds were trailing there was
mellow cadence in their tones which was not
70 be heard when they bsrked at the tree.
They gave mouth more deliberately and in
measured way.
When the hunters arrived the hounds were
alternately baying and gnawing at the foot Of
the tree.
Bark to barkl" exclaimed Mr. snelson.
with much solemnity. His little joke was lost
on all save Joe Maxwell. who was too much in
terested in the coon to laugh at It
Much to Harbert's delight the tree was not
q large one. and he made immediate prepara-
tons to cut 1t down.
"Wait mint" said Jim-Polk. "This coon
amt at home. and we'd better be certain Of the
tree he is in"
"You must have been visitin' him." said the
Senl8l prlnters IOr now 90 ye KNOW ABOUT MS
home. else2"
Some Of these days." said Jim Polk. laugh
ing. iii come to your house on stay to din
ner. an tell you about how coons live in
boiler trees"
Fetch your dinner wit ye." responded Smell
son. and yere more than welcome"
Jim-Polk was too busy to make a reply.
Holding the torch behind him. and waving it
slowly. he walked around the tree. He appear
cd to be investigating his own shadow which
fiickered and danced in the top Of the tree.
Now STOPPING and peering. now tiptoeing and
craninR his neck. now leaning to the right and
now to the left. he looked into the top Of the
tree. Finally he exclaimed:
Here he Is. Joe! Come take look at him."
Joe tried his best to see tbs coon. He looked
where Jim-Polk pointed taking sight along
his finger. but he was obliged to confess that
he could see nothing.
Gracious alivev' cried Jim-Polk. cant
you see his eyes a-shinin In the leaves
thsreT
'Pshaw!" exclaimed Joe. II was looking for
the whole coon and thought the shiny things
were stars showing between the leaves"
But no stars ever burned as steady as the
pale green little orbs that shone in the tree.
Maybe" said Mr.. Snelson, after trying in
vain to shine " the coon's eyes. maybe the
creature has left his eyes there and escaped"
But the others paid no attention to his jocuiar-
ity.
Tho thing to do now. Harbcrt." said jim
Polk, is to lay that tree where it won't hit up
agin no other tree. because II we don't we'll
have to be a-cuttin' an a-sashin in here all
night"
sol" exclaimed Mr.. snelson in tragic
tone. well. then. I'll der-raw the der
rapery OF me couch about me and lie down to
pleasant der-reams!
You see." said Jim-Polk. If that tree hits
a:in another tree of goes Mr.. Zip Coon into
t'other one. Coon is Quicker'n lichtnin' on the
jump"
III make 'er fall out dat way" said Har-
bert. indicating an open place by u wave Of his
hand.
Upon inc SOUL" exclaimed Mr. Snelson.
hill
Yes, sah!" said Harbert with pardonable
pride. II done cleaned out too many new
Grouns. lay l kin drive stob out dar an
nut do body er dish yer tree right pom top I'm
1t. l kin dat!"
With that Harbert rolled up his sleeves. dis
playing the bilowy muscles Of his arms wiped
the blade Of the axe. spat in his hands. swung
the axe AROUND his head. and buried it deep in
downward stroke. and 1t was followed quickly
S Syssh sFs swat S". fno 5t TN! %hsb 6sS
ceased their baying, now became restless and
tance from the tree. Mr.Sne lson took his stand
on one side and Joe Maxwell on tho other.while
Jim-Polk went out where the tree was to fall
the coon. The advice to Harbert was given
with good reason. for it is a favorite trick OF
a. it falls and leap on while the dogs and
hunters are hunting for him In tho bushy top
the tree sway ed forward and fell he ran down
the trunk. Mr.. snelson saw him. gave squat.
moment Harbort gave yell that was signal
TO the dogs, and the excited creatures plunged
It was Loud. no one ever knew. but p one of the
dogs. IN his axcitement. ran between Mr.. Smell
sons Legs That gentkIs lena heels flew in the
fhump. Stunned and frightened. he hardly
knew what had happened. Tho last thing he
saw was the coon, and lie concluded that he
had captured the animal.