ON THE 'POSSUM'S TRAIL 87 



fence, climbed out on the slanting stake, dropped 

 to the top of the shock, and went straight down 

 through the middle to his nest. 



He came out the way he went in, too, never 

 leaving his track on the ground near the corn- 

 shock, nor his scent near by where a dog could 

 find it. He may not have known that dogs cannot 

 walk fences and climb poles. Perhaps not. But 

 he knew two things, stupid as he looked: one was 

 that a good and sure road home lay atop the rail 

 fence ; the other was that a pretty safe way to 

 hang out one 's latch-string is through one 's chim- 

 ney. 



Yet perhaps this was only a happy blunder, and 

 not real woods-wisdom at all. For it is hard to 

 believe in the cunning of so much fat. One is not 

 surprised at a coon's taking the safe road of the 

 top rail; but that a sleepy, logy, fat, old 'possum 

 should take so much care is a real surprise. 



I am inclined to think it was a blunder. I think 

 he happened to walk the fence, happened to climb 

 the stake, and happened to tumble off into a soft 

 spot. And if once, why not again! For let a 

 notion get into a 'possum's head, and there it will 

 stick. You can't get it out, nor get another no- 

 tion in; there isn't room, I suppose. 



