The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-03
THE TURNER PLANTATION
BY JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS.
WRITTEN ESPECIALLY FOR THE HELENA INDEPENDENT,

Fetch your dinner wit ye," responded
jim Polk was too busy to make a reply.
Holding the torch behind him, and waving
it slowly, he walked around the tree. He
appeared to be investigating his own
shadow, which hiokered and danced in the
top of the tree. Now shopping M peering,
now tiptoeing n craning his nesk, 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 and take a look
at him."
Joe tried his best to see the coon. He
locked whore Jim-Polk pointed, taking
sight along his finger, but he was obliged to
confess that he could see nothing.
"Gracious. alive!" cried Jim-Polk, cant
you see his Dyes a shinin' in the leaves
"Pshawv" exclaimed Joe, I was looking
for the whole coon. and l thought the shiny
thinRs 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 'shins'' the coon's eyes. Maybe
the creature has left his eyes there and
escaped" But the others paid no alton
ton to his POPULARITY.
The thing to do now, Harbert," said
o1A' ID to lay tuat ttee WneFelt WONT
hit up agln no other tree, because if we
don't we'll have to be a-cuttin' an a-slash-
in in here all night"
SOP" exclaimed Mr.. Snelson in a tragic
tone. "Well, then, I'll dsr-raw the der
rapsry of me couch about me and lie down
to pleasant der -reams"
"Yo see," said Jim-Polk, "if that tree
! hits aRin another rree, of goes Mr.. Zip
Coon into t'other one. Coon is qulckerin
lightnin' on the jump"
"I'll make err fall out dat way said Har-
bert, indicating an open place by q wave of
| his hand.
Upon me soulr' exclaimed Mr.. snelson,
up hill"
Yes. sah," said Harhert with pardona-
bic pride. II done cleaned ont too many
new g~roun's. I lay l kin drive q stob out
der an put dc body or dish yer tree right
pot top un it. kin dat"
With that Harbert rolled up his sleeves,
displaying the billowy muscles of his arms,
wiped the blade of the Ak, spat in his
hands, swung the aroun his head and bur-
led it deep in the body of the water
oak. 1t was a sweeping, downwnrd stroke,
and it was followed quickly by others un-
til, in a very short time, tho tree began to
sway a little. The dogs, which had ceased
their bnying, now became restless, and ran
wildl, about. but always keeping a safe dis
tnncs from tho tree. Mr.. Snelson took his
stand on one side and Joe Maxwell on tho
other, while Jim-Polk went out where
the tree was to fall, after caution
ing Harbert to keep a lookout for the
coon. The advice to Harbert was given
with good reason. for it is a ~favorite trick
of the rsccoon to start down the body of
the tree as it falls and leap off while the
dogs and hunters IRE hunting for him in
the bushy top.
This coon made the Same experiment.
AS the tree swRysd forward and fell he ran
down the trunk. Mr.. Snelgon saw him,
gave a squall, and rushed forward to grab
him. At the same moment Harbert gave a
yell that was a signal to the dogs, and the
Whether it was jolly OF whether it was
Loud no one ever knew, but one of the dogs,
in his excitement, ran between Mr.. Smell
sons legs. That Rentlemsn's heels few in
tho air, n he fell on his back with a re-
sounding thump. Stunned and frightened.