served Phil, immediately.

"Trap's sprung, you mean?" asked his comrade.

"Yes, you can see where the bait has been carried away from the place
where I fixed it," he was told, as Phil pointed out where the cord ran.

"I guess the flash gave the poor old 'coon the scare of his life," Ethan
went on to say, considerably amused.

It was an object with Phil to encourage this interest on the part of his
chum. Accordingly, after gathering up the camera and flashlight
apparatus he had Ethan closely examine the marks that were plainly seen
about the place where the bait had attracted the attention of the little
animal.

As has been said before, Ethan was a practical woodsman, and knew a
great deal about all things connected with outdoor life. Trailing had
long been one of his particular hobbies; hence, he was able to tell just
what must have happened there.

"Here's where the 'coon came along, just as he'd likely done on many
another night when he felt fish hungry. And about here, Phil, he began
to get a whiff of that green corn you fetched with you to use as bait."

"How do you make that out?" asked the other, partly for information, and
also with the idea of keeping up Ethan's interest, which he could easily
see was growing right along.

"Why, the marks have a different look," Ethan explained. "He stopped
right here to sniff, and then went forward on the run, all caution
thrown to the winds."

"That took him up to the bait?" suggested Phil.

"Yes, and you bet he didn't waste a single second laying hold of the
same," Ethan ventured, positively, just as though he might be watching
the entire performance with his own eyes, instead of figuring it out.

"Like as not it's been a long time since this particular 'coon had a
chance at an ear of juicy green corn," observed Phil. "Perhaps he never
even saw one before, but his instinct told him what a good thing was
when he ran across it."

"As he began to pull at the cob, meaning to carry it off to his den,
there came that dazzling white flash," Ethan continued.

"It petrified the 'coon for the instant," explained Phil, "that happens
in nearly every case. If you look close you'll find that the animal
always has a startled expression. I rather think any of us would if a
flash like that blinded us just when we'd started to pick up the biggest
watermelon in the patch."

"It frightened Mr. 'Coon away, of course," said Ethan.

"But he may sneak back here again before morning