THE NATURALIST DEVELOPING. 67 



great deal, for the sluggish 'possum does not care to trust iis 

 heels much on the ground to run away, and we shall be apt 

 to find it where it has come to feed on the persimmons, or 

 overtake it on the way. With many a shrill whoop and yell 

 we cheer the dogs on to greater activity, now that the forage- 

 grounds are gained, and the game must be at hand. 



Hark, a low, wary yelp, quick, short, half-smothered with 

 hesitation and eagerness ! There it goes, the gathering cry ! 

 yelp, screech, quaver, whine ! They are bursting to let go 

 their voices. Hurrah ! the shrill yell rises from every throat 

 at once, curs, boys, darkies screeching all together in one 

 sharp, sudden cry of savage exultation ; then all is silent. 



" Tree'd !" "tree'd!" Yes, a short, sullen bark is followed 

 by another and another, as each dog comes up, and smelling 

 at the tree, satisfies himself that all is right ; now we plunge, 

 tearing through the brush, regardless of briars and thorns, in 

 the direction of these sounds, and soon we hear the eager 

 whining of the dogs, through all the noise of their barking. 

 We are very close now ; and bursting through the thicket, 

 come upon them, all leaping up against a fence-corner of the 

 plantation ; there, showing plain against the moon, and hang- 

 ing by the tail from a limb of that bare persimmon over the 

 fence, we see the great grey 'possum savagely grinning at the 

 scene below, with his long, white teeth full bared ! 



Hah ! hah ! hah ! what yells of merry laughter greet the 

 grotesque sight ! Some point their fingers at his shame-faced 

 grins, some pelt him with rotten boughs caught up from the 

 dry leaves at our feet ; while the dogs yell louder still, and 

 leaping against the tree and fence fall back in scrambles 

 between our le<rs. 



f ^ 



"Hn, yah! ole boy! what do dar, grinnin' at dat moon? 

 Steal more olc hen, suck more eggs, 'nudder night, will 

 yer?" 



" Come out dat ! dat curl-teil no hold whar dis child climb !" 

 and up starts a young darkie to shake him out. 



