Both boys immediately declared that they were indebted to him for thinking so much about their pleasure.

“Humbug!” said the gentleman, vigorously; “why, your coming has given me more pleasure than I could ever return.  It’s wakened me up, my wife says, and given me a new lease of life.  Why, just to meet one of old Ambrose’s nephews has been a tonic for me.  Haven’t I spent nearly every evening in retailing old stories of our doings over on that blessed island of Cuba, when we were with the insurrectos and fighting against the power of Spain?  No, I just couldn’t do too much for such fine lads as you are.”

Such talk was enough to make both boys blush.  But they were growing to like Major Buckley more and more with each passing day, and the recollection of their delightful experiences while his guests would always remain as a happy era in their southward voyage.

“No use going out right after supper, boys.  Better wait a little.  It’s true that the half moon will have about set by then, but we can use torches just as well.  Besides, I always think they add to the picturesque character of the hunt.  I’ve had them all prepared of pitch pine, full of resin, and able to give us all the light we want.”

Of course, both boys knew considerable about ’coon hunting at night—­they would not have been true sons of old Kentucky otherwise.  But it happened that neither had ever been fortunate enough to participate in a genuine chase, and the chance appealed to them vigorously.

About nine o’clock the major announced that it was time to make a start.

The barking of the eager dogs that scented the coming fun told that time was passing slowly for them as well.  Soon the little party had assembled and started for the edge of the big cornfield.  Here several shocks of the white corn had been left as a tempting bait for a late hunt, and it was at such a point they anticipated having the dogs pick up the scent.

Besides the major and the boys there were three colored brothers.  One of these was named Black Joe, and he was a faithful old white-headed negro, who had served the major’s father through the civil war.  When Buckley married and settled down, Ms first act had been to hunt up old Joe and bring him to his plantation as a sort of major-domo or general overseer, and Joe made good every time.

He was a quaint darky, with a fund of original observations that sometimes made it hard for the boys to keep straight faces.  Besides, this Black Joe could quote Scripture by the yard, and nothing ever happened but what he had a verse ready.  Why, one day when Thad was walking with him over some newly cleared ground, old Joe suddenly clutched his arm, drawing him back and pointing to a little but ugly ground adder that lay in the path, instantly said: 

“Man mus’ watch as well as pray!”

And no one could manage the ’coon pack as well as Black Joe.  When the excitement raged, and the best trained dogs were frantic, the master might command without obtaining obedience; but let old Joe tell a dog to stop barking, or to get out of sight, and it was simply wonderful how his words bore fruit.