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 
