the dogs get cooney. That way there won't be any shot
marks in his skin. What do you say? Is that a good plan?"

They all said that was the proper course, so they built a fire, and
placed the Thread Man where he could see the gleaming eyes of the
frightened coon, and where all of them could feast on his soot and
oil-covered face. Then they opened the bag and passed the sandwiches.

"I really am hungry," said the weary Thread Man, biting into his with
great relish. His jaws moved once or twice experimentally, and then he
lifted his handkerchief to his lips.

"I wish 'twas as big as me head," said Jimmy, taking a great bite, and
then he began to curse uproariously.

"What ails the things?" inquired Dannie, ejecting a mouthful. And then
all of them began to spit birdshot, and started an inquest
simultaneously. Jimmy raged. He swore some enemy had secured the bag
and mined the feast; but the boys who knew him laughed until it seemed
the Thread Man must suspect. He indignantly declared it was a dirty
trick. By the light of the fire he knelt and tried to free one of the
sandwiches from its sprinkling of birdshot, so that it would be fit for
poor Jimmy, who had worked so hard to lead them there and tree the
coon. For the first time Jimmy looked thoughtful.

But the sight of the Thread Man was too much for him, and a second
later he was thrusting an ax into the hands accustomed to handling a
thread case. Then he led the way to the tree, and began chopping at the
green hickory. It was slow work, and soon the perspiration streamed.
Jimmy pulled off his coat and threw it aside. He assisted the Thread
Man out of his and tossed it behind him. The coat alighted in the fire,
and was badly scorched before it was rescued. But the Thread Man was
game. Fifty times that night it had been said that he was to have the
first coon, of course he should work for it. So with the ax with which
Casey chopped ice for his refrigerator, the Boston man banged against
the hickory, and swore to himself because he could not make the chips
fly as Jimmy did.

"Iverybody clear out!" cried Jimmy. "Number one is coming down. Get the
coffee sack ready. Baste cooney over the head and shove him in before
the dogs tear the skin. We want a dandy big pelt out of this!"

There was a crack, and the tree fell with a crash. All the Boston man
could see was that from a tumbled pile of branches, dogs, and men, some
one at last stepped back, gripping a sack, and cr