COLONEL CROCKETT. 75 



seated around a well-spread board, and stimulated by 

 some glasses of excellent wine, we congratulated the 

 skilful inventor of the opossum-hunt upon his important 

 discovery. 



During a residence in Philadelphia, in 1845, I became 

 acquainted with that celebrated " original," Colonel David 

 Crockett, whom his compatriots had raised to the rank 

 of commander of the national guard of that city. This 

 thorough American, among other manias, cherished the 

 notion that he was a second Robin Hood. He was wont 

 to assert that he never drew his trigger without hitting 

 his mark. Hair or feather, nothing escaped his eagle 

 eye. 



One of his friends, introducing me on a certain evening 

 to the Philadelphia!! Nimrod, said, in his presence, 



"You see our good friend David? Well, his accuracy 

 of sight is such, that when he goes hunting in the woods, 

 if an opossum perceives him, he raises his paw as a sign 

 for him to wait a moment before firing. 



" ' Is it you, Colonel Crockett 1 ' says the terrified 

 'possum. 



" Yes.' 



" * Then, in that case, I'll just come down. Wait for 

 me. I know I'm a dead 'possum, and that I have no 

 chance of escaping you.' 



" And the opossum is as good as his word. He de- 

 scends the tree, and crawls to the feet of Colonel Crockett, 

 who delicately gives him a back-handed stroke on his 

 neck, and pitches him into his game-bag." 



At this eulogistic stretch of "the long-bow," David 

 Crockett laughed ; but he took care not to contradict it. 



