"That's no squirrel," thought Frank. "I believe it's a 'coon--sure as a
gun. And I haven't got a thing to shoot him with."

He thought of putting his knife into his gun for a bullet, but it proved
too large. Then he looked for some coarse gravel, but did not find any.
Feeling in all his pockets, his fingers clutched a board nail.

"Ah, that's the thing! We'll see, Mr. 'Coon, if you care any more for
board nails than you do for peas."

Loading his gun again, he dropped in the nail instead of a knife for a
bullet. He took careful aim again at the spot of fur between the
branches, and fired. The 'coon was more than surprised this time, and he
certainly forgot to look before he leaped, or he never would have sprung
right out ten feet from the tree, with nothing between him and the
ground, thirty or forty feet below. He struck all rounded up in a bunch,
like a big ball, bouncing up two or three feet from the ground. Frank
started toward the animal, thinking, "Well, that fall's knocked the life
out of him."

He never was more mistaken. When he stepped toward him, the 'coon got
upon his feet at once, and offered battle. Frank now used his gun in
another manner, seizing it by the barrel, and turning it into a war
club. There ensued some lively dodging on the part of the 'coon; but at
length he was hit slightly, when he turned and ran for the nearest tree.
This happened to be a beech, in whose hard, smooth bark his claws would
not hold. He slipped down, and as Frank came up, turned and made a dash
for the boy's legs. Frank met him with a blow of the gun on the head, at
which the 'coon dropped down, apparently lifeless. Another such blow
would have finished him; but Frank was unwilling to give it, for the
last one had cracked his gun-stock. So he shouldered the gun, took the
'coon up by the hinder legs, and started for home. Before he got there
the 'coon had come to his senses again, and made Frank pretty lively
work to keep his own legs safe. As soon as he could find a good stake
Frank dropped his dangerous burden, and before the 'coon could run away,
he was stunned by a blow of the stake.

With this victory the war between Frank and the 'coons ended for the
season. He had been obliged to buy some corn of a neighbor in order to
fill his contract with the canning factory; but the 'coon-skins sold for
enough to make up the money.

[Illustration: "COME ON!"]

[Begun in No. 46 of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, Septembe