ere not doomed to disappointment. Pompo had scarcely
entered the field when a second 'coon was sprung, which, like the other,
ran directly for the fence and the woods.

"Pomp followed as fast as he could be flung over; and this 'coon was
also `treed' in a few minutes.

"From the direction of the barking, we calculated that it must be near
where the other had escaped us; but our astonishment equalled our
chagrin, when upon arriving at the spot, we found that both the
`varmints' had taken to the same tree!

"With some rather emphatic ejaculations we returned to the corn-field,
and after a short while a third 'coon was raised, which, like the
others, made of course for the timber.

"Pomp ran upon his trail with an angry yelping, that soon changed into
the well-known signal that he had treed the game.

"We ran after through brush and brake, and soon came up with the dog.
If our astonishment was great before, it was now beyond bounds. The
identical buttonwood with its great parasite was before us, the dog
barking at its foot! The third 'coon had taken shelter in its capacious
cavity.

"`Wagh! massa!' ejaculated Abe, in a voice of terror, `its de same
varmint. It ain't no 'coon, it's de debil! For de lub o' God, massa,
let's get away from here!'

"Of course I followed his advice, as to get at the 'coons was out of the
question.

"We returned once more to the corn-field, but we found that we had at
last cleared it of 'coons. It was still early, however, and I was
determined not to give up the hunt until I had assisted in killing a
'coon. By Abe's advice, therefore, we struck into the woods with the
intention of making a circuit where the trees were small. Some 'coon
might be prowling there in search of birds' nests. So thought Abe.

"He was right in his conjecture. A fourth was started, and off went
Pompo after him. In a few minutes the quick constant bark echoed back.
This time we were sure, from the direction, in a new tree.

"It proved to be so, and such a small one that, on coming up, we saw the
animal squatted upon the branches, not twenty feet from the ground.

"We were now sure of him, as we thought; and I had raised my gun to
fire; when all at once, as if guessing my intent, the 'coon sprang into
another tree, and then ran down to the ground and off again, with Pompo
veiling in his track.

"Of course we expected that the dog would speedily tree him again, which
after a few minutes he did, but