Part 11 (1/2)

”Old Boney's showin' 'em all the way!” he exclaimed triumphantly.

”Yer can bet he always does that, Sonny!” the father answered. ”That's a hot trail. Nigh ez I can figger we're goin' ter have some fun. There's more'n one c.o.o.n travelin' over that ground.”

”How can you tell?” Dennis asked incredulously.

”Hit's too easy fer the other pups--they'd lose the scent now an' then ef they weren't but one. They ain't lost it a minute since they struck it--Lord, jest listen!”

He paused and held his breath.

”Did ye ever hear anything like hit on this yearth!” Dennis cried.

Every dog was opening now at the top of his voice at regular intervals, the swing and leap of their bodies over the brush and around the trees registering in each stirring note.

Again Tom gave a shout of approval.

The sound of the leader's voice suddenly flattened and faded.

”By Gum!” the old hunter cried, ”they've left the woods, struck that field an' makin' for the creek! Ye won't need that axe ter-night, Dennis.”

”Why?”

”Wait an' see!” was the short answer.

They hurried from the woods and had scarcely reached the edge of the field when suddenly old Boney's cry stopped short and in a moment the others were silent.

”Good Lord, they've lost it!” Dennis groaned.

And then came the quick, sharp, fierce bark of the leader announcing that the quarry had been located.

Tom gave a yell of triumph and started on a run for the spot.

”Up one o' them big sycamores in the edge o' that water I'll bet!”

Dennis wailed.

”You'll need no axe,” was the older man's short comment.

They pushed their way rapidly through the cane to the banks of the creek and found the dogs scratching with might and main straight down into the sand about ten feet from the water's edge.

”Well, I'll be doggoned,” Dennis cried, ”if I ever seed anything like that afore! They've gone plum crazy. They ain't no hole here. A c.o.o.n can't jist drap inter the ground without a hole.”

The old hunter laughed:

”No, but a c.o.o.n mought learn somethin' from a beaver now an' then an'

locate the door to his house under the water line an' climb up here ter find a safe place, couldn't he?”

”I don't believe it!” Dennis sneered.

”You'll have ter go to the house an' git a spade,” Tom said finally.

”It'll take one ter dig a hole big enough ter ever persuade one er these dogs ter put his nose in that den. Hit ain't more'n a mile ter the house--hurry back.”