86 BEYOND THE PASTURE BARS 



But how did the 'possum manage it, right along 

 the path and so near the house, where, except for 

 this accident to his shock, he might have lived 

 all winter ! In this way, partly. This corn-shock 

 that he had chosen, unlike any other in the field, 



He climbed out on the slanting stake 



stood close along an old worm-fence, and in such 

 a position that one of the long cross-stakes, used 

 for a post, slanted out over its top. 



Now, if this 'possum had been a rabbit this 

 long, slanting fence stake would not have helped 

 him at all. A rabbit cannot walk the top rail of a 

 fence, and climb out to the tip of a tall, slanting 

 pole. But a 'possum can. A rabbit would have 

 to creep under the shock from the bottom, going 

 in on the ground. The 'possum, however, did not 

 have to do that way. He walked the rider of the 



