University of Virginia Library

23. CHAPTER XXIII.

When Colonel Hendrickson had concluded his story,
it was found that the hour of retiring to repose had arrived.
Mrs. Hendrickson arose, and placed a large
family bible and a hymn-book upon the table; for these
worthy people, as we are happy to say is the case with
a great many families in this region, never separated for
the night, without bowing down together in worship.
The Colonel read a chapter in the holy book, selected a
hymn, in the singing of which the whole circle joined,

and then kneeling down, prayed with fervor and solemnity.
There is no worship which impresses the
imagination, and warms the heart, like that of the family.
When in the silent hour of night, those who are joined
together by consanguinity and affection, kneel together—
when the father prays for his children and dependants—
there is a touching interest, and moral beauty, in the
scene; and we know not how any, who profess the doctrines
of Christianity, can neglect so serious a duty, or
deny themselves so delightful a pleasure.

Just as they were about to retire, a loud barking of
the dogs announced the arrival of other visitors, who
proved to be a party of boys, sons of the neighboring
farmers, going to hunt the raccoon. They had called to
borrow the Colonel's favorite dog, who was famous at
catching these animals. Mr. George Lee, delighted with
anything in the nature of sport, immediately proposed
to the other gentlemen to join the party, but they declined
participating in any amusement which was considered
as being more properly suited to boys. But George
was not to be balked in his humor. A refusal from
Virginia Pendleton had always the effect of driving him
to the sports of the field with renewed ardor, and he now
joined the lads in their excursion with hearty good-will.

The party consisted of a number of lads, some of
whom were nearly grown, and others quite small. They
carried axes, and blazing torches, and were followed by
a number of dogs. On reaching the woods, the dogs
scattered in different directions, in search of their game;
and the human animals strolled carelessly along, waiting
for a signal from their brute companions. The atmosphere

was still, but frosty; it was a clear and starlight
night, but the heavy mass of decaying leaves, that still
clothed the tops of the tall trees, rendered the darkness
impenetrable, execept where the torches carried by the
hunters, threw a bright glare immediately around them,
as they passed along. The stillness that reigned through
the forest was profound. As the hunters moved, the
leaves rustled under their footsteps, and their voices
breaking in upon the repose of nature, seemed to have
an unnatural loudness; and when they stood still to
listen, nothing could be heard, but now and then a distant
faint sound of the tread of a dog, leaping rapidly
over the dried vegetation, or the scream of an affrighted
bird. They pursued no path, but strolled fearlessly
through the coverts of the forest, directed only by their
acquaintance with the local features of the country.
They often paused to listen. The dogs continued to
hunt, taking wide circuits through the forest, and returning
at long intervals, one by one, to their masters, as if
to report progress, or to ascertain what had been the
success of others. All at once a barking was heard,
falling upon the ear so faintly, as to show that it proceeded
from a distant spot. It came from a single dog,
and announced that he had fallen upon the scent of
a raccoon; and in a few minutes a change in the tones
of the animal, which became more lively, intimated that
he had chased the game to its hiding-place. The other
dogs, on hearing this sound, all rushed eagerly towards
the spot from whence it proceeded, followed by the
hunters at full speed. They found the successful dog
sitting at the foot of a large honey-locust tree—or as
the boys expressed it, “barking up a honey-locust,”
with every appearance of triumphant delight.

The first thing which was now done, was to collect a
quantity of fallen limbs, which were piled into a large
heap, and lighted by means of the torches that had been
brought for this purpose. In a few minutes an intense
blaze shot upwards, throwing a brilliant glare of light
upon the surrounding scene; and the animal for whose
capture these preparations were made, was seen standing
on a bough forty feet from the ground, endeavoring to
conceal itself, while it gazed downwards in alarm and
wonder. A loud shout announced the delight of the
party on beholding their game, the dogs evinced an
equal degree of pleasure, and it would have been hard
to tell which animals,—the human or canine,—experienced
the greatest degree of enjoyment in the sport.

The young men now threw off their coats and began
with their axes to cut down the great tree, in which their
prey had taken refuge. It was several feet in circumference;
but that which would have been considered, under
other circumstances, a laborious task, was cheerfully
undertaken in the eager pursuit of amusement. Blow
after blow fell upon the solid trunk in quick succession,
and the woods re-echoed the rapid and cheerful strokes
of the axe. Two of the hunters wielded the axe on opposite
sides of the tree, striking alternately with regular
cadence, and with such energy and skill that every blow
made its appropriate impression; others relieved them,
from time to time, by taking their places, while the
smaller lads continued to supply fuel to the fire. At
length the work was so nearly accomplished that a few

more blows only were required to complete it, and all of
the party, except those engaged in chopping, retired to
the side of the tree opposite to the direction in which it
was expected to fall, gathering together all the dogs, and
holding them fast by main strength, to prevent them
from running under the falling tree, and being crushed
by its descent. Nor was it an easy matter to restrain
the eager animals, for no sooner did the great tree begin
to totter and creak, than they began to whine and struggle,
showing the greatest impatience to rush forward and
seize their prey, as soon as he should reach the ground.
The tall tree slowly bowed its top, trembling for a moment
as if blanced, then cracking louder and quicker,
and at last falling rapidly, tearing and crushing the
boughs that intercepted its downward progress, and
stretching its enormous length on the ground with a tremendous
crash. The neighboring trees, whose branches
were torn off, and whose tops were disturbed by the sudden
rush of air accompanying the fall of so large a
body, bowed their heads over their prostrate comrade,
waved their splintered limbs, and then relapsed into their
original state of majestic repose.

No sooner did the tree strike the ground, than the
raccoon darted from among its quivering branches, and
bounded away pursued by the whole yelling pack of
dogs and boys. And now there was shouting and
scrambling. Surrounded by so many foes, the raccoon
was soon brought to bay by a young dog, who paid
dearly for his inexperience, for the enraged animal turning
suddenly, struck his sharp teeth into the head of the
dog, who yelled lustily with pain; this occupied but a

second; the raccoon resumed his flight, and the beaten
dog, whining and bleeding, slunk away. Again and
again was the hard-pressed animal obliged to face his
pursuers, who now headed him in every direction that
he turned, and more than one dog felt his keen bite.
The human tormentors crowded around, interfering no
further than by encouraging the dogs with loud shouts;
and the sport went bravely on, until the raccoon suddenly
springing at the trunk of a large tree, clambered
up, and with a few active bounds placed himself out of
the reach of his pursuers.

Another fire was now kindled under the second tree,
which happened to be of a less formidable size than the
first, and the indefatigable hunters went to work again
with their axes. The raccoon was less fortunate than
before, for when the tree fell, he was completely surrounded
by his enemies, who took care to prevent him
from again “treeing.” It was astonishing to see the
fierceness and success with which this small animal defended
himself against so many adversaries of superior
size; the sharpness of his teeth, and the quickness with
which he snapped, rendered his bite severe, and his sagacity
in seizing upon the most vital and sensitive parts
of the bodies of his assailants was remarkable. He
sprung often at the eye, the lip, and throat of the dog
who ventured to engage him; and it is always observable
that a dog who is a veteran in such affairs, or as the
hunters say, “an old 'coon dog,” has a face covered with
scars, an effect probably produced by the skill of the
canine animal, in protecting the rest of his body, by
presenting his front only to his foe. It was impossible,

however, to contend long against such unequal numbers;
several of the dogs were sent yelling out of the fight;
but at last one more experienced and bolder than the
rest rushed in, seized the brave little animal by the
throat, and in a moment worried him to death. The
whole combat, though lively, fierce, and eventful, lasted
but a few minutes.

The dogs were again sent out, and soon succeeded in
chasing another victim into a tree, and the same proceedings
were thereupon had, as a lawyer would say, as
in the case aforesaid; and in the course of the night
several raccoons were taken, in a similar manner so far
as respected the kindling of fires, and chopping down
trees. In other particulars, however, there was a considerable
variety of incident. A veteran old male raccoon
fought like a determined warrior, and sold his life
dearly, while one of smaller size, or of the softer sex,
fell an easy prey. Sometimes the unhappy animal was
crushed to death by the fall of the tree in which it had
taken refuge; and sometimes after an immense tree had
been felled with great labor, it was found that the wily
game had stolen away along the interlocking branches,
and found refuge in the top of another. Then the fires
were renewed, and the bright glare usually enabled the
hunters to discover the fugitive closely nestled in a fork,
or at the junction of a large limb with the body of the
tree, where it lay concealed, until curiosity induced it to
show its face, in the sly endeavor to take a peep at the
operations going on below, or some slight motion betrayed
a protruding paw, or the quivering tip of the tail.
Occasionally the young dogs committed the disgraceful

mistake, of “treeing” a lazy fat opossum, in the
branches of a slender sapling, from which it was quickly
shaken down, and beaten to death ignominiously with
clubs.

The hunters were nearly satiated with sport, when it
happened, that the dogs, on striking a trail, went off with
great vivacity, following it to a considerable distance, to
the surprise of their wearied masters; for the raccoon
runs slowly, and on finding itself pursued, immediately
climbs a tree. On they went, full of hope, the scent
growing more and more fresh, and the dogs barking
louder and with greater animation, as they proceeded,
until the game was driven to a tree. The fire was lighted,
when the trembling of a bough showed that the animal
was springing from one tree to another, where new
operations were commenced, and the axes were striking
merrily, when an alarm from the dogs was heard, and it
was found that the wily game, after stealing from tree
to tree, had descended to the ground and dashed off.
Away went the dogs and boys again, in higher spirits
than ever, for the ingenuity and boldness of the animal
showed that nobler game was now started, and that they
were on the trail of a wild-cat, who was so closely
pressed, as to be again obliged, after a gallant run of
about half a mile, to take refuge in the branches of a tall
oak, which happened to stand apart, so that the animal
could not leap into a neighboring tree. Fires were now
lighted all round the spot, so that a considerable space
was illuminated with a brilliancy as great as that of
noon-day; the cat was seen, with back erect, and
glaring eye-balls, looking fiercely down; the axes

were plied with renewed vigor, and the oak was soon
prostrated. Greater precautions were now used, to
prevent the escape of their prey; the youths, armed with
clubs, formed a large circle, and the dogs rushed in from
different directions. The enraged animal sprung boldly
out, bounding with vigorous leaps, showing his white
teeth, and growling defiance. The dogs, highly excited,
dashed fearlessly at their prey, and a hot engagement
ensued, for they had now to cope with one of the most
ferocious brutes of the forest—one which, though not
large in size, is muscular, active, cunning, and undauntedly
fierce. Fighting with teeth and claws, he inflicted
deep wounds on his eager assailants. Growling, barking,
hissing, and shouting, were mingled in horrible discord.
Dried leaves, and earth, and fur, were thrown into the
air, and the slender bushes were crushed and trampled
down, by the maddened combatants. Surrounded, and
attacked on all sides, the furious cat fought with desperation.
Sometimes springing suddenly up over the heads
of his assailants, he alighted on the back of a dog, fixing
his teeth deep in the neck, driving his sharp claws into
the throat on either side, and bearing down the agonized
and suffocated animal to the earth; and sometimes overthrown,
and fighting on his back, bitten and worried
from every direction, he sprang at the throat of one of
his tormentors, sunk his deadly fangs into the jugular,
nor released his hold until the dog quivered with the
pangs of death; until wounded, torn, bleeding, and exhausted,
he was overpowered by numbers. Thus ended
in triumph, a most glorious hunt.

The night was nearly wasted, and the sportsmen, now

several miles from home, began to retrace their steps.
After proceeding a short distance, they divided into
several parties, each taking the nearest direction to their
respective habitations. One of the youths agreed to
accompany Mr. Lee to Colonel Hendrickson's; and our
friend George, after expressing the delight he had experienced
in the “capital sport” which they had enjoyed,
bade them a hearty good night, and marched off with his
young guide, through the dark and now silent forest.
Fatigued with several hours of severe exercise, they
sauntered slowly along, and as the hunter walks, habitually,
with a noiseless tread, their footsteps fell silently
on the leafy carpet of the forest. The death-like repose
of the woods afforded a strong contrast to the fires
which had lately gleamed, and the sounds of conflict
that had awakened the echoes of the wilderness. Although
the darkness was almost impenetrable, the guide
moved forward with unerring skill, keeping the direct
course, without deviation, climbing over hills, on whose
summits the star-light glimmered faintly through the
foliage, or descending into vales, where not a gleam of
the light of heaven broke in upon the solitary travellers.

At length, they crossed their former track, at a spot
where one of the fires had been lighted. The fuel had
been heaped up at the foot of a dead tree, of considerable
magnitude, and as the pile had been great, and the heat
intense, the flames had enveloped the trunk, extended
upwards to the branches, and lighted the whole fabric
in a blaze of glowing fire. They first saw this beautiful
sight from the summit of a neighboring hill, from which,
though still distant, it was distinctly visible—a tree of

fire, standing alone in the dark forest! The trunk presented
a tall column of intense redness, round which
the flames curled, and rolled, giving to this majestic
pillar of fire the appearance of a waving motion; while
the branches and twigs were all lighted up, and completely
enveloped with the glowing element, and parts of
them were continually breaking off and falling to the
ground, like drops of blazing liquid. As they stood gazing
at this splendid exhibition, several figures were seen
moving in the light, close to the burning tree, which were
ascertained to be those of men and horses; and the
hunters felt their curiosity excited by the appearance of
horsemen in this solitary place, at such an hour. Mr. Lee
proposed to approach them, and ascertain their character;
and the guide, equally inquisitive, consented, with some
hesitation, and after suggesting the propriety of using
caution. Deeds of violence had lately been perpetrated;
and the young forester whispered, that for some days
past, when the men of the family were at work in the
fields at some distance from the house, his mother had
kept the doors fastened all day, and if she heard a foot-step
approaching, hid her children, and armed herself
with a rifle, before she looked out, to ascertain the
character of the visitor. The butcheries of the Harpes
had filled the whole country with dread.

Thus prepared, they advanced, cautiously, towards
the fire, and came sufficiently near to distinguish two
men, stout, ill-looking, and completely armed. They
frequently looked suspiciously around, and listened, like
men expecting to be pursued, and resolved to be on their
guard; and as they stood exposed in the broad glare of

the light, there could be no doubt that they were the
identical ruffians who had disturbed the peace of these
new settlements, and against whom the whole community
was about to rise in vengeance. Each of them held by
the bridle a fine horse, panting as if from a hard ride.
There was another person with them, to whom one of
the men was speaking, in earnest and authoritative language,
and who was recognized, at a glance, by Mr.
Lee, as his late companion, Hark Short, the snake-killer.

After conversing a few minutes, the men mounted
their horses, and rode rapidly away, plunging their
spurs into the sides of their spirited steeds, and riding over
obstacles, and through brush, with fearless and careless
speed. Mr. Lee waited until they were out of hearing,
and then advanced to the fire, to speak to Hark; but the
boy, on hearing his footsteps, ran nimbly away, without
waiting to ascertain who it was that approached; and the
hunters resumed their homeward way, which led in a
direction opposite to that taken by the Harpes.