"I need not tell you, gentlemen, that throughout the Western States every neighbourhood has its noted 'coon-hunter. He is usually a wary old `nigger,' who knows all the tricks and dodges of the 'coon. He either owns a dog himself, or has trained one of his master's, in that peculiar line. It is of little importance what breed the dog may be. I have known curs that were excellent `'coon-dogs.' All that is wanted is, that he have a good nose, and that he be a good runner, and of sufficient bulk to be able to bully a 'coon when taken. This a very small dog cannot do, as the 'coon frequently makes a desperate fight before yielding. Mastiffs, terriers, and half-bred pointers make the best `'coon-dogs.' "Uncle Abe was the mighty hunter, the Nimrod of the neighbourhood in which I happened to be; and Uncle Abe's dog--a stout terrier--was esteemed the `smartest 'coon-dog' in a circle of twenty miles. In going out with Uncle Abe, therefore, I had full confidence that I should see sport. "On one side of the plantation was a heavily-timbered `bottom', through which meandered a small stream, called, of course, a `creek.' This bottom was a favourite _habitat_ of the 'coons, as there were large trees growing near the water, many of which were hollow either in their trunks or some of their huge limbs. Moreover, there were vast trellises of vines extending from tree to tree; some of them, as the fox and muscadine (_Vitis Labrusca_), yielding sweet grapes, of which the raccoons are very fond. "To this bottom, then, we directed our course, Abe acting as guide, and holding his dog, Pompo, in the leash Abe carried no other weapon than an axe, while I had armed myself with a double-barrel. Pompo knew as well as either of us the errand on which we were bent, as appeared from his flashing eyes and the impatient leaps which he now and then made to get free. "We had to cross a large corn-field, a full half-mile in breadth, before we reached the woods. Between this and the timber was a zigzag fence-- the common `rail' fence of the American farmer. For some distance beyond the fence the timber was small, but farther on was the creek `bottom,' where the 'coons were more likely to make their dwelling-place. "We did not, however, proceed direct to the bottom. Abe knew better than that. The young corn was just then `in the milk,' and the 'coon-hunter expected to find his game nearer the field. It was settled, therefore, that we should follow the line of the fence, in hopes that the dog would strike a fresh trail, leading either to or from the corn-field.