The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-23

Personally / should never dream OF inter-
rupting fox or other wild creature in the
act of stealing hens For the pleasure and
information to be- gained by watching the
animal al work the payment of a hen or
two would seem no more loss than would
the payment of money for lecture tickets.
But then. my living in nowise depends upon
the successful rearing of poultry: IL 1t did
I might have had more sympathy for
farmer neighbor who called upon me some
months ago. Something. ne said. had been
stealing his chickens, and he wanted TO
know il / wouldn't try to find out what it
was. He and his sons were tired out
every evening that he didn't see how any
Of them could sit up nights to watch the
henhOuse, but 7 never seemed to have
nothin' to do but nosey around the woods
lcokin' for animals and takin pictures,
and he thought the job would be just in my
line. I thought so. too, 50 | accepted the
proposition. and that night / took an old
army blanket and made myself comfortable
under the lee of a haystack. whence l had
a fair view of the farmers henhouse.
Before that, however I had all the hens
removed to another building. for I knew the
animal, whatever 1t was. would probably
return to the scene of its former successes,
and I'm case had to capture an animal in
the henhOuse 1 did not wish to have mat
tiers complicated by the insane acts Of half
hundred sduawking hens. That night.
however. my watching was In vain, and
the second night just as barren of re-
suits. But the third. beautiful moonlight
night. / was not disappointed. 1t may have
been IL o'clock when | distinctly heard
sound from the direction of the stable: 1t
was the sound of some animal shifting Very
quietly / raised my head until had view
or large part of the yard. Not thing
could see. yet every and then | could
hear sniff which was very encouraging
Presently round an angle of the barn came
dark-loOking animal which. by its peculiar
rocking gait alone. should have recognized
as raccoOn. 1t came on at "A Ieisurely
pace, shifting at every crack in the barn.
and occasionally standing on its hind legs
to look about 1t. Very soon ii reached the
end of the barn. and. turning. cut across the
yard to the henhouse Near one corner of
this building there was a little door for the
hens, and into this the raccoon walked as
deliberately as though he owned the barn.
yard. dropped the little door into place aud
i had my prisoner. Then / got a lantern
from the stable, and. opening the door
very carefully. walked into the henhouse.
The raccoon was walking along the topmost
perch as ! entered, but. laying back it's ears.
and expellng the air from its lungs with a
loud Kissing sound. It scrambled quickly to
the ground and worked it's way along the
sides OF the building. looking for hole to
escape by. | advanced toward IL and held
out my foot. IL accepted the challenge on
the instant. and. rushing forward, seized
my shoe with its teeth and gave it a bite
which made me feel glad that the leather
was thick. 1t did not hang ON. as many
animals do. but drew back as though to pre-
pare for another rush, leaving its teeth
marks deep in my shoe. i decided to let il
go and hunt the animal up later to get an
idea of its private life. SO / opened the door