Mun looked puzzled. "Think I'd lie, Harky?"
"No, Pa," Harky said hastily. "Just tell me again that all us Mundees been on the trail of Old Joe."
"How kin ya ponder?" Mun asked. "My grandpappy told my pappy, who told me, who told you, that Old Joe's been hunted by every Mundee."
"What do you think of Old Joe's big sycamore?" Harky questioned.
"It's a witch tree," Mun said seriously. "I ain't rightly been able to figger if'n Old Joe takes wings an' flies off it or if'n he does jump in the slough. But I'm sure that if'n Old Joe gits in his witch tree naught can harm him."
"Ha!" Harky exclaimed. "Now we know!"
"Know what?" Again Mun was puzzled.
"All," Harky declared. "Mellie Garson gets mule-kicked; Melinda brings Glory to horn in on our hunt; we get Old Joe up in his sycamore; Melinda says it ain't no witch tree and Old Joe's naught but a big coon; you believe her and try to climb; you bust your leg; Raw and Butt don't want no more part of us—and," Harky wailed, "I can't even take pleasure on account you can't make me fetch the corn in!"
"By gum!" Mun said, "you got it!"
"Sure I got it," Harky asserted. "Why'd you let Melinda horn in on our coon hunt, Pa?"