Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1954-01-28

little different away up there in the
tip-top. Could it be knot, or was
it a bunch of leaves? l made a
mental note to look it over again
later, provided we couldn't get the
coon to look at US.
"That's an old 'coon," / told my
partner, "and he'll never look at a
.light-he'll just lay up there fiat on
limb, or in a crotch somewhere
and look straight up in the sky" Il
think all experienced 'coonhunters
will concur with me in this state
ment.)
AS it turned out, l was so right.
Wed been there an hour. We'd
looked that tree over from every
conceivable angle. No soap. No
eye. No coon. No nothing. Wal
ter, 1 could see, was beginning to
get very dubious about the whole
thing. Even old "Drive" had
ceased his frantic barking. 1t was
only once in while that he'd make
few tree banks. He just sat there
on his launches quiet-like-looking
solemnly up in the tree. And, as
time went on l thought he didn't
look up there quite as expectantly
as he had when we first got to the
tree.
was the most optimistic of all.
l was certain there was coon up.
jim that big oak. But where? l
didn't say anything, but I'd made
up my mind to see this thing
through. 1 was going to stay until
daylight if necessary. You know,
build a fire, and when daylight
came I'd know for sure what had
happened.
And then all of a sudden l
thought of that funny looking spot
I'd seen right after 1 first got to
the tree. l had no difficulty locat-
ing it again. l studied it a long
time, and finally made up my mind.
"Hey," said to my friend, %ead
up the gun and take a shot right in
the center of my light-right
where I've got it." was holding
it in the very middle of the suspi-
cious spot.
"Why Roy, that's only bunch of
leaves" objected Walter.
"Could be-" said l, "but let's try
it. That's the only thing in that
whole tree l can't figure out"
And so l held up my light over
the gun barrel so he could see the
sights, focusing it at the same time
on what l fervently hoped was Mr..
Ringtail.
l can still hear the echo of that
shot. And something moved
up there-cr, at least l thought I
saw something inch up limb. And
then, all of sudden two livid balls
of fire glared menacingly down on
us. 1--WE found out later that we
had merely succeeded in wounding
the coon in the foot.)
Well, it was soon all over. 1t took
four shots to bring him out. He
was up high-he was protected
quite bit by limb-his hide was
tough-he was sure an old boy. He
fell, finally, all of so feet, landed
on all tours with enough life and
fight in him to give old "Drive"
whale of battle. One cannot over
describe how very viciously a coon
can fight. A fight is very exciting,
but the sad part is the death cry
of the 'coon-a sound like baby
sobbing-a sign that he has done
his best and realizes that he has
lost the battle. The experienced
coon dog, learning the significance
of this cry, will Immediately wade
in for a throat hold-and it's cur
tains for Mr.. Coon.
I'll say this, and l don't call it
braggadocio: Nine hunters out of
ten would have left that tree
they'd have said the dog lied. l
knew old "Drive" hadn't made a
I learned 'coonhunting
the hard way, by going into it alone
and finding out things for myself. l
left many a coon in tree when l
had him dead to rights, before 1
learned the business. / have al
ways maintained that the raccoon
is the smartest animal that roams
the woods, barring none.
He weighed Is pounds-a giant