The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-03-11
0P0SSUM HUNT IN ALABAMA.
A Story for Boys and Girls.

Autumn is the fayorite season for
hunting the opossum in Alabama, for it
is then the little animal grows fat on
| persImmons and muscadines, and is
esteemed toothsome article of food by
all the negroes and many of the white
| people. He is pursued at night, because
| ne seldom or never goes abroad in day
light, but lies in his den, under clay
root, or in a hollow log
Under cover of darkness, he stealthily
| seeks his food, or pays social visits to his
friends and acquaintance. Sometimes
he has been known to make an incur
sion into neighboring poultry-yard,
and bear off choice pullet; but it is
only when made desperate by extreme
hunger that he takes such risks.
| Ordinarily, he is very timid, avoiding
the presence of men and dogs-who are
his desdliest foes-and subsisting entire
| ~ on wild fruits and small game. When
| attacked, he offers no resistance, but
falls upon his back, grins hideously and
| feigns to be dead.
1t happened not long since, while I
was on a visit to Mr.. Harland, friend
of mine, who resides in the country, that
an oppossum hunt was arranged for my
amusement
My friends little son Walter, twelve
years of age, was delighted, and prom
| ised to take upon himself all the care
and responsibility of getting everything
ready for the grand occasion.
All the afternoon he was busy making
preparation, running to the cotton fheld
to consult Wash. the most noted opos-
sum hunter of all the negroes on the
plantation; collecting and splitting BIZ
lets of resinous pine, for torches, and
grinding an axe, to be carried and used
In case @ tree had to be felled.
At supper-time he announced that
everything was in readiness, and the
prospect good for a successful hunt.
1t was a beautiful, starlit night-just
cool enough to make active exercise
pleasant.
A short walk brought us to Wash's
cabin, situated back of the t'big house,
and just on the edge of an extensive
wood.
Wash himself was seated ON the door
step, smoking corn-cob pipe, the odor
OF which left no room to doubt that it
was charged with '.stingy green" More
OF the same commodity might be seen
hanging from the rafters OF a shed at the
end of the cabin, and few stalks, now
gone to seed, standing in one corner of
the yard
A blast from Wash's horn was re-
sponded to in q prolonged and melan-
choly bowl by q blue-speckled hound,
chained toa tree bearing swallow gourds
instead of leaves or fruit.
81 tied Old Rock to keep i'm fun
goin' off before we got ready" explain
ed Wash.
stWhat did you blow your horn for.
then?'' asked Mr.. Harland.
ITO call dem two rapsoallions.
t'The 'trapscalfiensn were two negro
boys about the age of Walter, who came
running from neighboring cabin, each
clad in a single garment suspiciously
resembling q four-sack with sleeves and
an opening for the head.
They brought the sharpened axe and
billets of pine Walter had prepared, and
were followed by little dog, which
Wash contemptuously styled a 'Nbench
legged fee, fit for nothin' bat to make
fuss. ~
Don't you bodder long O dat flee,
Tinker Wash, retorted one of the rap
scallions. HE show you what he good
for
Led by Wash, who held a flaming
torch, we plunged into the forest. The
hound trotted briskly in advance, and
was soon lost to view. No sound was
audible except the crunching of dry
leaves under our feet and the distant
hooting of an owl.
We were descending long slope to-
wa.ad creek which flowed through
df,nse swarrp. Just as we reached the
edge of the latter, cur attention was ar
rested by an exclamation from one OF
the rapscaIlions:
81 yeard old Roekr'
(which a-wayan inquired Wash.
The hound himself answered the ques-
ton, far up the swamp. The boys start
ed off in that direction atfull speed, but
were Immediately halted by Wash.
What you gwine wild dat little ole
fce?a
1--WE was gwine to the tree they re-
piled
You jes' stan right still in yo' tracks
tell to1e you to go. / amt yeard~no
the bark yit.'
The hound was trailing slowly, his cry
reaching US at intervals of a quarter of a
minute. An occasional whoop from
Wash cheered him on, and seemed to
have the effect of quickening his mo-
tions. The barking gradually became
more frequent, and eventually gave
token that the scent was warm and the
pursuit eager. Suddenly the sounds
!
Gle has lost the track remarked
Mr.. Harland.
Yes. sah,'' replied Wash, 'sbut hen
find it again. Whoopee' Hooray Rockt',
In moment the chase was resumed
with an increased vigor. All at once
the tones OF the hounds voice changed
perceptibly.
Oats treedi'' exclaimed Wash.
The three boys could no longer be re-
strained. They seanapered through the
dark wood in the direction of the hound
as fast as their legs could carry them,
and in a few minutes we heard the voice
#ssf the small dog joined with that of the
hound
.I'Il be bound for dat lice!'' remark
ed Wash. as we moved along at more
ieisurcly pace s.He think he freed dat
spossam all by hissef. =
Follow ing the swamp about two hum
dred wards, we found that the hound
w:ss- on the opposite side, and we should
therefore have to cross
This proved an unpleasant and dill
cult task. having 10 force our way