This book is ready for the
publisher.
WHEN THE STARS ARE ALIGNED JUST RIGHT, and God looks
on with favor, the length of a boyhood and a good dog’s life pretty much
coincide. But in this story, there were heartbreaking problems along the way
before Tooter came to me.
The Fourche
River has its headwaters in West-Central Arkansas. The upper reaches of the
river flows through a beautiful valley, up to three miles wide, bordered by
high mountain ranges on each side. These high mountain ranges, together with
the fact that there are no large light sources in the valley, produces some of
the darkest skies, and the brightest stars, in America. This is Fourche Valley,
one of the most beautiful valleys on God’s green earth, and a wonderful place
for this story to take place.
*
As Tooter
and I lay under the giant oak tree at the river’s edge, he put his head on my
shoulder. The woods were quiet upon our arrival. The sun was moving toward the horizon. We
were soon asleep. Sometime later, we
were awakened by a big grey squirrel on a low limb nearby, barking and scolding
us for invading his domain. The sun had just touched the horizon, like a huge
orange ball, just sitting there in all its glory.
The forest
had come alive in that last hour of daylight. The squirrels scurried here and
there, in a frenzy, barking and chasing each other, as they do at day’s first
light. An early-awakening owl hooted in the distance. The sparrows were on the
forest floor, pecking, gathering in their last few seeds before darkness
enveloped us all.
Tooter
still lay with his head on my shoulder. He paid little attention to the animals
around us. He had not yet learned of the importance I attached to the squirrel.
But I would teach him, when the first cool nights arrived, and the brightly
colored leaves dangled on the tips of the limb of the oak, the elm, and the
hickory, about to begin their fluttering journey to the forest floor.
*
They were on
time. The smell of the fresh meat brought them in just after midnight. I sat by
the door with my gun ready. I did not tether Tooter. If it came down to a fight
to the death tonight, I did not want him hampered. The fire was burning
brightly. With a little help from my carbide light, I could see the red eyes as
they sniffed around the cache. My gun was sticking out a loophole I had
fashioned, safety off. I would let the traps do their work first, then open
fire, though I knew my accuracy would not be dependable in the dim light. If I
could just take out Ole Crooktoe, one way or the other, we would have no more
trouble from the pack, I figured. The Coyotes were jumping for the bait. I
heard a couple of high pitched yelps, as the traps did their job. I could see
no sign of Crooktoe. I opened fire, and was answered by more yelps from the
pack. Still no sign of Crooktoe.
Suddenly,
something really big crashed into my gate. It was as if the gate exploded into
me. The gun flew from my hands, and I
was knocked backwards. As Crooktoe and all the remaining pack attacked Tooter,
I searched for my gun. Crooktoe turned his attention to me, and knocked me flat
on my back. As I looked up, it was as if my nightmares were coming true.
Crooktoe stood over me, momentarily, and all I could see were those black eyes
boring into me. He was growling. His fangs, dripping blood, Tooter’s blood, were going for my
throat. I wrapped both hands around his neck, and pushed him back with all my
strength, but I was losing this fight. He was stronger. As his fangs touched my
neck…..
*
Dan and I,
and our dogs, started concentrating, once again, on squirrel season. One Friday
night, Dan and Bandit were spending the night at my house, so we could get an
early start on our squirrel hunt the next day.
About the
time we were just getting up and around in order to be in the woods at break of
day, our dogs cut loose royally down by the cow pasture. We looked at each
other, and immediately put aside our squirrel rifles and grabbed shotguns. I
grabbed our old double barrel 12 gauge, Big Dan chose my brother’s 16 gauge
pump. We filled our pockets with buckshot, and eased out as quietly as
possible. Dad sleeps very soundly just before the break of day, and I could
hear him still snoring as we eased out the door. I knew full well, if it was
bear problems, and our dogs got on his trail, they would stick to it. Bandit
was familiar with bears from his younger days, and he had treed bears before.
Tooter would stick with bandit, no matter what. There was no time to wait for
Mister Gene, we had to handle this ourselves. We had to be out and gone before
Dad woke up, or he would put an end to our plans to chase our dogs down quick.
And it could mean the end for Tooter and Bandit.
We had
guessed correctly. A half-grown calf lay dead, and the dogs were on a hot trail
toward the North Mountains. This time, The Judge didn’t head across all those
ridges he would have to cross in order to get to the main mountain. He followed
Stowe Creek right up Wing Holler, right up by Turner’s Store. It was beginning
to break day by the time the bear went through Wing, and the old men at the
store, who were early risers and were already there drinking coffee, spilled
coffee everywhere when they heard Tooter and Bandit coming up the creek. They
were just in time to see The Judge disappear up by the spring, and they cheered
us on wildly as we jogged a quarter mile behind with our shotguns. They later
told us that Tooter and Bandit were pressing him hard, one hundred yards
behind.
Actually,
after thinking it over later, I realize they were mainly cheering on the dogs,
but it boosted us along into a full run when we came by hearing all that
cheerin’. If it weren’t for worrying about our dogs, our heads would be swelling
out of sight. We knew everybody in Wing would hear this story by good sunup.
They, of course, would call Mister Gene, who would be there soon, but probably
not soon enough to help our dogs out much with The Judge.
*
Tooter was
in a fight to the death with three large coyotes. One had Tooter by the back
leg, the other by his front shoulder. The third was attacking Tooter’s
midsection, and they were stretching him out between them. I ran toward them,
screaming loudly.
*
***
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