een hooked by some heedless
trout-fisher farther up-stream, torn from the hook in anger because it
was not a trout, and thrown back into the water, to survive or die as
the water-fates should will. It turned on one side, revealing its
white belly and torn gills; then, feeling itself washed ashore by the
eddy, it gave one more feeble flop in the effort to regain the safe
deeps. At this moment the raccoon, pouncing with a light splash into
the shallows, seized it, and with a nip through the backbone ended its
misery.

Having eaten the fish, and daintily cleaned her fur, the raccoon
ascended the bank, with the purpose of returning to her lair in the
old sycamore. She stopped abruptly, however, as a new sound, very
different from that of the frog chorus, fell upon her heedful ear. It
was an excited, yelping whine; and presently she caught sight of a
long-legged, plumy-tailed dog, rushing wildly hither and thither, nose
to earth, quartering the ground for fresh trails.

The raccoon knew the dog, from a distance, for the young, unbroken,
brown Irish setter which had lately come to the neighbour farm. His
qualities and capabilities, however, were, as yet, unknown to her.
Though she knew herself more than a match for the average dog, and
particularly for the small black and white mongrel which, up to a
month ago, had been the only dog on the farm, she did not know just
how dangerous the Irish setter might be. Therefore, though the light
of battle flamed into her eyes, she considered her responsibilities,
and looked around for a tree.

There was no tree near, so she turned, crouched close to the ground,
and attempted to steal off unperceived. But as she turned the dog
caught sight of her. At the same instant he also caught her scent. It
was a new scent to him, a most interesting scent; and he rushed upon
her, with streaming tail and a peal of joyously savage yelpings. The
raccoon backed up against a granite rock, and stood at bay, her long,
white teeth bared, her eyes fierce, fearless, and watchful.

The Irish setter was a wild, undisciplined pup, harebrained and
headlong after the manner of his breed. Of raccoons and their
capabilities he had had no experience. This small, crouching animal,
under the rock in the moonlight, seemed to promise an easy victory. He
sprang upon her, open-mouthed, and snapped confidently at her neck.

All his big jaws got were a few hairs; for on the instant the raccoon
had dodged. Her keen claw