As Lightfoot came up, he made a grab at the ’coon, which, quick as a flash, eluded him, and, when the hound turned upon him, the ’coon gave him one severe bite, when Lightfoot uttered a dismal howl, and, holding his nose close to the ground, beat a hasty retreat; and the Young Naturalist could not induce him to return.

During the fight, short as it was, Frank had gained considerably, and, as the ’coon turned to make off, he again threw his ax at him, which, true to its aim, struck the ’coon on the head, and stretched him lifeless on the ground.

Meanwhile Archie was endeavoring to secure his ’coon, under rather more difficult circumstances.

As soon as the tree had begun to fall, Archie dropped his ax, seized a short club that lay near him on the ground, and, discovering a ’coon making for the bushes, he started after him at full speed.

The animal appeared to run heavily, as if he had been partially stunned by the falling of the tree; and Archie had followed him but a short distance, when he had the satisfaction of discovering that he was gaining at every step.  The ’coon seemed to understand that his chance of escape was rather small; and, after various windings and twistings, commenced ascending a small tree.  Archie ran forward with all possible speed, with the hope of reaching the tree before he could climb out of the way.  The ’coon moved but slowly, and Archie felt sure of his prize; and, as soon as he came within the proper distance, he struck a powerful blow at the animal, but he was just out of reach, and the club was shivered to pieces against the tree.

Archie, however, did not hesitate a moment, but, placing his hands on the tree, commenced climbing after him.  The ’coon ascended to the topmost branch, and looked down on his enemy, growling and snapping his teeth, as if to warn him that he intended to make a desperate resistance; but Archie was not in the least intimidated, and, reaching the branch on which the ’coon was seated, he shook it violently, and the animal tumbled to the ground, and, as soon as he could regain his feet, started off again.

Archie descended as quickly as possible, and started in pursuit, hoping to overtake his game before he could again take to a tree.  There was an abundance of large trees growing in the woods, and, if the ’coon should take it into his head to ascend one of them, Archie might whistle for his game.

The young hunter well understood this, and he “put in his best licks,” as he afterward remarked, and, in a few moments, had almost overtaken him, and began to look around for something to strike him with, when the ’coon, as if guessing his intention, suddenly turned and ran up a large tree that stood close by, and, crawling out on a limb, about fifty feet from the ground, he settled himself down, as if he had concluded to take matters more easily.

This was discouraging; and Archie seated himself on a log under the tree, and for a moment thought seriously of giving up the chase.  But the ’coon was a fine, fat fellow, and his skin would make a valuable addition to the museum, and, besides, he had followed him so far already, that he was reluctant to go back to his companions without him, and, on second thought, he concluded that he would not go back unless he could carry the ’coon with him.