Up went the boy higher and higher, carefully examining each
limb as he passed it, until he was among the very topmost branches of
the tree. The others stood on opposite sides of the trunk, with axes
or clubs uplifted, and gazed anxiously upward until their necks ached.
At length Winn became aware that from the outermost end of a slender
branch just above his head a pair of green eyes were glaring at him.
The glare was accompanied by an angry spitting sound. "I've found him,
fellows! Look out below!" he shouted, and began a vigorous shaking of
the branch. All at once the animal uttered a sound that caused a
sudden cessation of his efforts. It also caused Winn to produce a
match from his pocket, light it, and hold the tiny flame high above his
head. Then, without a word, he began to descend the tree.
As he dropped to the ground the others exclaimed in amazement, "What's
the matter, Winn? Where's the 'coon? Why didn't you shake him down?"
"He's up there," replied Winn, "but I don't want him. If any of you
do, you'd better go up and shake him down. I'd advise you to take a
torch along, though."
Not another word of explanation would he give them, and finally Binney
Gibbs, greatly provoked at the other's stubbornness, declared he would
go up and shake that 'coon down--in a hurry, too.
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