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 coon can't jist drap inter the ground without a hole." The old hunter laughed: "No, but a coon 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." Dennis started on a run. "Don't yer let 'em out an' start that fight afore I git here!" he called. "You'll see it all," Tom reassured him. He made the dogs stop scratching and lie down to rest. "Jest save yer strenk, boys," Tom cried. "Yer'll need it presently." They sat down, the father lit his pipe and told the Boy the story of a great fight he had witnessed on such a creek bank once before in his life. Day was dawning and the eastern sky reddening. The Boy stamped on the solid ground and couldn't believe it possible that any dog could smell game through six feet of earth. He lifted Boney's long nose and looked at it curiously. His wonderful nostrils were widely distended and though he lay quite still in the sand on the edge of the hole his muscles were quivering with excitement and his wistful hound eyes had in them now the red glare of coming battle. It was quick work when Dennis arrived to throw the sand and soft earth away and open a hole five feet in depth and of sufficient width to allow all the dogs to get foothold inside. Suddenly the spade crashed through an opening below and the rasp of sharp desperate teeth and claws rang against its polished surface. "Did you hear that?" Tom laughed. Another spadeful out and they could be plainly seen. How many it was impossible to tell, but three pairs of glowing bloodshot eyes in the shadows showed plainly. Tom straightened his massive figure and gave a shout to the dogs. They all danced around the upper rim of the hole and barked with fierce boastful yelps, but not one would venture his nose within two feet of those grim shining eyes. "Well, Dennis," Tom sighed, "I reckon I'll have ter shove you down thar an' hold ye by the heels while yer pull one of 'em out!" "I'll be doggoned ef yer do!" he remarked with emphasis. Tom laughed. "You wuz afeared ye wouldn't git here in time ye know." "Oh, I'm in time all right!"