animals as I was, and consequently was always ready to
accompany me when he had the chance. He was an honest fellow; a
thorough Patlander in look, manners, language, and ideas. When he
could, he used to press Tom Quambo, an old free negro, into the service;
and Quambo enjoyed the fun as much as Mike did. Each possessed a dog,
of which they were very proud, ugly as the animals were to look at.

"Den, you see, massa, if Yelp not 'ansome, he know eberyting," Quambo
used to remark. "He braver dan painter [meaning the puma], and run like
greased lightning."

It was difficult to say whether Yelp or Mike's dog was the ugliest; but
both masters were equally proud of their canine friends.

I too had a dog, which, if not a beauty, was certainly handsomer than
either of his two acquaintances. He was clever enough in his way, but
more useful in watching the hut than in hunting; indeed, when I went out
by myself for the purpose of observing the habits of the denizens of the
forest, I never took him, knowing that he would only interfere with
their sports.

On one occasion I had been over to see my Uncle Stephen, and as I was
returning home Mike Laffan met me.

"Would you loike to be afther looking for a 'coon to-night, Masther
Roger?" he asked. "Quambo says he can come; and Yelp and Snap are
moighty ager for the sport."

I at once agreed to meet my two friends, accompanied by my dog Pop.

Accordingly, at the time appointed, the day's work being over, Mike and
Quambo made their appearance at the hut; while running at their heels
were their two dogs, who were soon warmly greeted by Pop.

Setting out, we took our way along the banks of the river, near which we
fully expected to fall in with several raccoons. We had our guns, and
were provided with torches and the means of lighting them. We had not
gone far before we heard voices, and soon we were joined by three lads
from the settlement, who had got notice of the expedition. As they had
brought their dogs, we had a full pack of mongrels of high and low
degree, but united by one feeling,--that of deadly enmity to raccoons.

On we went, while the dogs, who had just then scented one of their foes,
yelled in chorus. Over huge logs and rotten trunks, through the brush
and dead trees and briars, we went at full speed; and sometimes wading
across bogs, sometimes climbing up banks, and occasionally tumbling over
on our noses, we continued to make our way at the heels of the