262 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 



steeple chase on foot ensues ; 'possum finds escape im- 

 possible, — feigns himself dead, — falls into the wrong 

 hands, and is at once, really killed. 



Such is opossum hunting among the negroes, a sport 

 in which more hard labor is got through with in a few 

 hours than will be performed by the same individuals 

 throughout the whole of the next day. Sometimes two 

 or three opossums are killed, — and if a negro is proud of 

 a yellow vest, a sky-blue stock, and red inexpressibles ; 

 with a dead opossum in his possession, he is sub- 

 limated. 



Among gentlemen, we have seen one occasionally 

 who amuses himself with bringing down an opossum 

 with a rifle, and we have met one who has given the hunt 

 a character, and really reduced it to a science. We 

 were expressing some surprise at the kind manner with 

 which our friend spoke of opossum hunting, and we 

 were disposed to laugh at his taste ; we were told very 

 gravely that we were in the presence of a proficient in 

 'possum hunting, and if we desired, we should have a 

 specimen at sundown, and by the dignity of the hunt we 

 would be compelled to admit that there were a great 

 many ways of doing the same thing. The proposition 

 came from our host, and we at once consented. 



The night was dark^ and I noticed this, and spoke 

 of it; and the reply was, that such a night only, would 

 answer the purpose. A half hour's ride brought us into 

 the depths of the forest, and in the extra darkness of 



