In the heart of the Creeping Hills, Old Joe reigns as the largest, fiercest, and most cunning raccoon around. No hunter has ever managed to capture him—not even Precious Sue, the legendary bluetick hound renowned for her tracking prowess. But this autumn, Harky senses that the tides are turning. Precious Sue has had a pup, Duckfoot, who possesses an instinct for coon hunting that seems almost innate. With his webbed paws, he glides through water as effortlessly as Old Joe slips through the shadows. Yet Harky faces his own challenges school is in session with the well-meaning but strict Miss Cathby, who insists that raccoons, like all living things, have their time. And then theres Melinda, the most headstrong girl around, who is eager to join the hunt. Jim Kjelgaards captivating tale, beautifully illustrated by Marc Simont, immerses readers in the thrill of coon hunting on a crisp autumn night, blending adventure with the complexities of growing up.