The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-21

tue BpOrG IN Iull az muCl as tnolf accom-
panying% grandsons, and each had q STOCK
of marvellous tales to tell of his glorious
hunts, when was a boy, before the war,
you know" Well. we'll, possum hunting
is the essence of broad. g~ood-natured fur
i'll sporting, and is free from many of the
unpleasant drawbacks and dangers of other
kinds of hunting, and will richly repay a
stranger to its destinations any trouble or
Inconvenience of trial should've be sojourn-
ing in the land of possums in hunting sea-
| son. Such a one would be repaid for a
journey to tho favored land for that spe-
cial purpose, though tyros should by all
means get some Uncle Sam, who is to be
found on every plantation, to act as mas
| ter of the hunt.
At a given signal the motley assemblage
''makes a break for tho woods" laughing.
shouting and singing corn songs,' and
the dogs keep up a full chorus OF delighted
barking and baying. Sons ~well-known
persimmon grove, paw-paw patch or grape
vine thicket is decided on and hithe1 the
merry crowd goes pcll nell. Soon a young
and ambitious hound gives tongue, and is
answered. by a. score of vigorous whoops
and halloos: but Uncle Sam, the veteran
possum and coon hunter, says shortly,
dat pups jess jumped a ole haar hare,
faint no postum. an l'se cwins ter larn de
The noise tones down and the pup and his
companions are "blown off the trail" and
started on another tack. while the party
trudges on. After a while old Drummer,
the trailer of the pack, opens with a deep
mellow bass and finishes up with an anxious
tremulous whine. Instantly all feet stop
and all tongues are still until tia oracle,
Uncle Sam, speaks, "Now, OATS somethin'
like. ole Drummer he know what he bout,
an lll bet n ginger cake q possum's been
long ders Tonight" and he cocks his head
knowingly to n side and his ears
Geem visibly to stretch toward his ~fayo.ite
hound. In a few minutes the old dog sends
forth a ~confdent and jubilant yelp, and
Immediately is joined by tue rest of the
pack in full cry. Uncle Sam simply says
Oats him. and a shout goes up, waking
the echoes in the woods and hills for a mile
around. and a rush is made "to where the
music is." No attention is paid to briers.
bushes. grape vines or creeks, except by
those who trip and fall, and they are left to
pull themselves together and follow On. A
short and sharp run is made and old Drum
mor's victorious bayinc tells that the game
IS freed, and Uncle Sam calls q half halt
with. Don't you all be in such a hurry, de
cause dat dog don't lie." Still tho excite
ment oontinuss. and all move forward, tho
h1ndmost keeping up as best they can. The
possum is a clumsy and slow-moving ami
NAL on the ground, and when he finds him
self pursued will take to the nearest tree he
S"H SAAuo' "ho Wy W ooAceht alIuseiI
among the branches and leaves, so that a
quarter or half-mile chase is the longest,
and he is often freed within a few yards
from whore the trail is struck.
On arriving at the tree. around which the
dogs are jumping and bowling as If to split
their Threats, fires are built, if found neces.
sary, and the hunters peer into the treetop
and search until enc sings out, "Dar he. 1
sees him." Wharf" "Ober to de Ief'
side, on dat limb to'ads de moon.' And
sure enough there is seen what appears to
be a bunch of wool. All wait for orders.
which Uncle Sam issues sharply and decis-
lively. knowing they will be obeyed without
hesitation. Here, Pete, you clam dat tree
an shake dc possum out. Mars. Gus, YOU
hol' Bruno; Marse George, you hor Leo;
and you little an big niggers hol' all dem
oder dogs 'cept ole Drumms,, he amt
gwineter hurt the postum. Now min what
l tells vou."
Pete goes up the tree like a squirrel. and.
finding the limb on which the game has
sought refuge, braces himself and COM
mences the attack by shaking the limb Wig
orously. This IL not such an easy matter as
the uninitiated may think. for tho possum
1871 close Ginger and his human-like hands
grasp the m firmly while his prehensile
tail is curled around it and drawn as tightly
as the coils of a boa constructor: indeed, 80
powerful is the animals hold and so tena-
clously does no hang on, that the shaking at
one end and the weight at the other often
breaks the limb, and tho possum falls to the
ground with his frail support still in his
embrace; or each foot may be shaken loose.
one after the other, and the; postum will
hang by his tail alone tor a long time, and
sometimes it is necessaryt to cut the branch
from the tree to get the game. When Pete