OPOSSUM HUNTING. 263 
its deep recesses we were piloted by a stout negro bear- 
ing a torch. Our dogs—for there were two of them— 
soon gave notice that we were in the vicinity of an opos- 
sum, and finally, directed by their noses—for eyes were 
of no use—they opened loud and strong, and satisfied us 
that an opossum was over our heads. 
At this moment I was completely puzzled to know 
how we were to get at the animal, I must confess; we 
had no axe, and a millstone intervening between the 
oppossum and our eyes, could not have shut it out of 
sight more effectually than did the surrounding darkness, 
which seemed to be growing “ thicker” every moment, 
by contrast with the glaring torch. 
The negro who accompanied us, without ceremony 
kindled a large fire about twenty feet from the base of 
_the tree in which our game was lodged, and as soon as 
it was well kindled and burning merrily, my companion 
seated himself about forty feet from the base of the 
tree, bringing the trunk of it directly between himself 
and the fire. I took a seat by his side by request, and 
waited patiently to see what would come next. The fire 
continued to burn each moment more brightly, and the 
tree that intervened between us and it became more pro- 
minent, and its dark outline became more and more dis- 
tinct, until the most minute branch and leaf was per- 
fectly visible. 
“Now,” said mine host, “we will have the opos- 
sum. Do you see that large knotty-looking substance 
