'Oh, I almost forgot,' he said. 'I heard there was a fad back in the New England states. Seems like everyone is going crazy over coonskin coats. Now if this is true, I look for the price of coon hides to take a jump.'
I was happy to hear this and told my father what Grandpa had said. Papa laughed and said, 'Well, if you can keep the coons out of those big sycamores, you might make a little money.'
Before I went to bed, Mama made me take a hot bath. Then she rubbed me all over with some liniment that burned like fire and smelled like a civet cat.
It seemed like I had barely closed my eyes when Mama woke me up. 'Breakfast is about ready, Billy,' she said.
I was so stiff and sore I had trouble putting my clothes on. Mama helped me.
'Maybe you'd better let that coon go,' she said. 'I don't think he's worth all of this.'
'I can't do that, Mama,' I said. 'I've gone too far now.'
Papa came in from the barn. 'What's the matter?' he asked. 'You a little stiff?'
'A little stiffl' Mama exclaimed. 'Why he could hardly put his clothes on.'
'Aw, he'll be all right,' Papa said. 'If I know anything about swinging an ax, it won't be long before he's as limber as a rag.'
Mama just shook her head and started putting our breakfast on the table.
While we were eating, Papa said, 'You know I woke up several times last night and each time I was sure I heard a hound bawling. It sounded like Old Dan.'
I quit the table on the run and headed for my doghouse. I didn't have to go all the way. Little Ann met me on the porch. I asked her where Old Dan was and called his name. He was nowhere around.
Little Ann started acting strangely. She whined and stared toward the river bottoms. She ran out to the gate, came back, and reared up on me.
Mama and Papa came out on the porch.
'He's not here,' I said. 'I think he has gone back to the tree.'
'I don't think he'd do that, would he?' Mama said. 'Maybe he's around someplace. Have you looked in the doghouse?'
I ran and looked. He wasn't there.
'Everybody be quiet and listen,' I said.
I walked out beyond the gate a little ways and whooped as loud as I could. My voice rang like a bell in the still, frosty morning. Before the echo had died away the deep 'Ou-u-u-u' of Old Dan rolled out of the river bottoms.
'He's there,' I said. 'He wanted to make sure the coon stayed in the tree. You see, Mama, why I have to get that coon. I can't let him down.'
'Well, I never in all my life,' she said. 'I had no idea a dog loved to hunt that much. Yes, Billy, I can see now, and I want you to get him. I don't care if you have to cut down every tree in those bottoms. I want you to get that coon for those dogs.'
'I'm going to get him, Mama,' I said, 'and I'm going to get him today if I possibly can.'
Papa laughed and said, 'Looks like there wasn't any use in building that scarecrow. All you had to do was tell Old Dan to stay and watch the tree.'
I left the house in a run. Now and then I would stop and whoop. Each time I was answered by the deep voice of Old Dan.
Little Ann ran ahead of me. By the time I reached the big tree, their voices were making the bottoms ring.
When I came tearing out of the underbrush, Old Dan threw a fit. He tried to climb the sycamore. He would back way off, then, bawling and running as fast as he could, he would claw his way far up on its side.
