Archive for June 21, 2010
The blue tick hound was like the Pritchards, mean and ugly.
Posted by: Israel Sanchez
Book: Where The Red Fern Grows
“I knew the killing of the ghost coon was out of my control, but I just didn’t want to see him die. I said to Rubin, “Just give me back my two dollars and I’ll go home. I can’t keep you from killing him, but I don’t have to stay and see it.”
Old Dan and Little Ann’s reputation as some of the best hunting dogs in the Ozarks brings the Pritchard brothers to grandpa’s store with the offer of a wager. The brothers know of an old coon that no hunter in the mountains has ever been able to catch. Every time a hunter thinks he has the coon treed, the animal disappears into the night. Billy agrees to a bet with the Pritchards that his dogs can catch the ghost coon.
After a long chase, Billy figures out the animal’s trick and his dogs soon have the animal cornered. Just before he lets Dan and Ann loose on the animal, Billy change his mind and decides to let it live, the long night of hunting has given Billy a new respect for the coon. The Pritchard’s are angered by Billy’s decision and when their own hound dog joins them, a fight between the whole group starts.
