part.

The poking efforts accomplished little. Occasionally the 'coon made a
little dash or scramble, but never went far. There was a great deal of
talking, shouting, and advice.

At last Uncle Jim, knocking the ashes from his pipe, moved into action.
He plucked a double handful of the tall, dry grass, touched a match to
it, and thrust it in the nick.

Without the slightest hesitation the 'coon shot out at the top!

Now just at that moment Tommy happened to be leaning over for a right
_good_ look down the hole. He received thirty pounds or so of agitated
'coon square in the chest. Thereupon he fell out of the tree
incontinently, with the 'coon on top of him.

We caught our breath in horror. Although we could plainly see that Tommy
was in no degree injured by his short fall, yet we all realized that it
was going to be serious to be mixed up with a raging, snarling beast
fight of twenty-two members. When the dachshunds should pounce on their
natural prey, the medium-size game, poor Tommy would be at the bottom of
the heap. Several even started forward to restrain the dogs, but stopped
as they realized the impossibilities.

Tommy and the 'coon hit with a thump. The dachshunds took one horrified
look; then with the precision of a drilled man[oe]uvre they unanimously
turned tail and plunged into the tall grass. From my elevated perch I
could see it waving agitatedly as they made their way through it in the
direction of the distant ranch.

For a moment there was astounded silence. Then there arose a shriek of
delight. The Captain rolled over and over and clutched handfuls of turf
in his joy. The General roared great salvos of laughter. Tommy, still
seated where he had fallen, leaned weakly against the tree, the tears
coursing down his cheeks. The rest of the populace lifted up their
voices and howled. Even Uncle Jim, who rarely laughed aloud, although
his eyes always smiled, emitted great Ho! ho!'s. Only Mrs. Kitty, dumb
with indignation, stared speechless after that wriggling mess of
fugitives.

The occasion was too marvellous. We enjoyed it to the full. Whenever the
rapture sank somewhat, someone would gasp out a half-remembered bit of
Mrs. Kitty's former defences.

"Their long, sharp noses are like tweezers to seize the game!" declaimed
Charley, weakly. [Spasm by the audience.]

"Their spatulate feet are meant for digging," the Captain took up the
tale. [Another spasm.]

"Their bandy legs enabled them to thro