too much. She saw it, and hung her head, for 

 she knew what was coming. 



"Look yhere, yo' obtuscious oF fool. Wat 

 yo' 'sociatin' wid a low-down possum as takes t' 

 mus'rats' holes'? Wat I done toP yo' 'bout 

 dis ? Go 'long home ! Go 'long en talk de 

 moon up a tree." And as Uncle Jethro dropped 

 upon his knees by the hole, Calamity slunk 

 away through the brush. 



I held up a bunch of freshly washed grass- 

 roots. 



"Uncle Jeth, this must be a new species of 

 possum ; ^he eats roots like any muskrat," I 

 said innocently. 



It was good for Calamity not to be there just 

 then. Uncle Jethro loved her as he would have 

 loved a child ; but he vowed, as he picked up his 

 gun : "De nex' time dat no-'count dog don't talk 

 possum, yo' '11 see de buzzard 'bout, yo' will." 



We tramped up the hill and on through the 

 woods to some open fields. Here on the fence 

 we waited for Calamity's signal. 



"Did you say you would n't put any price on 

 Calamity, Uncle Jethro ? " I asked as we waited. 



There was no reply. 



[16] 



" Here on the 

 fence we waited.' 



