What trick does the raccoon pull up in chapter 10 in the book Where the Red Fern Grows?

Billy soon discovers that raccoons often play tricks on hunting dogs to throw them off the scent. One such trick is to lead the dogs onto the ice, which is highly dangerous because dogs can easily fall through the thin ice and end up freezing to death. This is exactly what very nearly happens in chapter 10 of Where the Red Fern Grows.
One night, Little Ann gets into a spot of bother on the ice. Billy's worried sick that he won't be able to save her. In fact, the situation seems pretty hopeless as the poor dog holds onto the ice for dear life. After saying a little prayer, Billy gets a sudden flash of genius and figures out that he can save Little Ann by curving his lantern handle into a makeshift hook, which he can then put on the end of a stick to fish his dog out of the icy water. Thankfully, Billy's prayers are answered, and Little Ann is saved from a terrible fate.