The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-26

TO be fact concluded that he would
keep Col Mileham's company at the fire
aud let 'coons and 'possums take care
of themselves. The dogs had led the
crowd back almost to the starting point
Another start WIS made and in a short
time the dogs were again heard The
mad scramble was repeated and after q
run of half a mile the hunters stood upon
the edge of a precipice at the bottom of
which ran Little Soldier creek.
Let's go down and Grass the creek"
said one. The dogs are on the other
side'
81 kick right here" said Tony Brown.
Couldn't we find better way TO get
DOWN." suggested Postmaster Arnold
modestly.
No; come on boys" said Capt Hawk
ms, and he boldly plunged down the
bank
Mr.. Earnest was the first of the city
hunters to venture down, and though the
decent was rapid, he succeeded in keep
ing his feet and landed at the bottom in
an upright position.
Capt. Jack Arnold hesitated, but he
grabbed a root" and so made his down
ward trip easily. Tony Brown stood
halting on the bank, but when he saw
that he must go down or be left, he
chose to follow the example set by the
others. Again his rotundity served
good purpose, aud when he untang!ed
himself after he reached the bottom he
was found to lie unhurt.
The creek bed was dry and so the
crossing was made without difficulty,
and the opposite bank was not prseipi-
tous. The dogs were found not far away
gazing wistfully up a sapling. a sus-
picious burch well in the top of the tree
aroused the sportmen's hopes. but they
dropped several degrees when a well
directed load of shot tore a bunch of
leaves into fragments Every tree in the
vicinity was searched as carefully as pos
sible in the moonlight, but nothing was
found though Mr.. Arnold several times
discovered what he thought was a coon,
which the markham in every case proved
was a mistake.
After the creek had been recrossed
several times with more or less difficulty
and 81 kick right here from Tony
Brown, the dogs repeated their suspic
ious performance. but again there WAS
nothing but disappointment No
wild animal could be found. Captain
Arnold said nothing, but it was plain to
be seen that even he was becoming die
couraged.
The fallen hopes of the hunters were
soon to be revived, for they had not
gone far when they came up with the
dogs.
When the dogs were found they had
their faces turned toward the moon, and
between them and the moon, on slender
branch of a small tree, hung something
that looked like the punches of leaves.
which had proved so disappointing. 1t
might have passed as such had it not in
a waywsrd moment moved little nearer
the top of the branch.
"'coonw "a 'coon' was the joyful cry,
and Postmaster Arnold said: That does
look like a coon, sure enough"
Asixteen year old boy in blue overalls
at once started TO the tree 10 investigate
He managed to get ten feet from the
ground when his hold slipped and be
landed at the foot of the tree in heap.
He was not hurt however and the leader
of the hounds had no difficulty in ascend
ing the tree. When he got to within ten
feet of the bunch he sounded the cry
which was taken up by others on the
ground: "A coon, prepare for IA fight"
A circle was formed into which the
little animal was to be shaken from mis-
perch. and the dogs were placed inside
the circle. a half dozen vigorous shakes
of the limb and then plump in the cen
ter of the circle fell the coon. Nothing
was seen for few moments but a howl
ing mass of dogs but when the dust of
battle had cleared away. there was the
coon, and five or six dogs were doing
their best to tear him limb from
limb Resistance was useless and
the animal undoubtedly realized that
fact, for after giving a few squirms it
squeaked family and then remained limp
until it was extracted from the jaws of
the dogs
81 haven't hunted coon for thirty-five
years, said the postmaster, land that was
as pretty siQht as / ever saw. That
LOOKS like old times" said he, as he
stroked the soft fur of the animal.
Il take charge of this" said Tony
Brown, and he did, and carried it until he
reached the camp.
The next alarm by the dogs showed
another bunch in q tree. dts actions were
suspicious and no epe dared to ascend
The tree and so the marksman was direct
ed TO try his skill. He did and at the
second shot there was thud at his feet,
and he picked up very fat 'possum.
1t was decided by council of war
that the course of the hunt should be
turned up Soldier creek. No one pro-
tested. though Tony Brown did suggest
that it would be good idea to return TO
the camp aud eat lunch before making
fresh start. He protested more vigor-
ously when the creek was again reached
and this time there was a steep bank to
climb instead of descend.
II kick right here" was said more
emphatically than it had been said be-
fore, but when the other members OF the
party had succeeded in scaling the bank,
he also started.
Twice he slipped back after he had
partially ascended the earthen wall and
then he succeeded in reaching the top
only to be confronted by barbsd wire
fence. When he attempted to climb
under the fence he tore his clothes into
shreos aud he boldly told the captain
that he was of the opinion that a job had
been put up on him 10 wear him out by.
directing the path across "ths everlast-
ing creek"
Tony then refused to go farther He
went on a strike and withdrew from the
| hunt and he took with him Postmaster
Arnold and several of the rest. jasper
Earnest and others remained true to the
captain and followed him for at least