Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-27
HUNTING.
lV-COONS AND POSSUMS.


tween some big forks. His plump BODY
fattens out against the limbs, and "Brer
Coon he lay low" Just one thing gives
him away. and 1t is this for which the
varmint hunters are searching pair OF
green eyes that shine like balls Of fire
through the darkness. A reflector Ian
tern Is held aloft by varmint hunter.
Another raises flaming torch above
his head and peers among the shadowy
outlines Of the great branches. Round
and round the tree the hunters move,
searching every part CT IT, F1naliy there s
a subdued exclamation: II see him, TEL
lers: up between those forks! Sure
enough, there he Is. for those green eyes
are focused sharply on the baying dogs
and the forms of the hunters circIng
about the trunk It's big tree and will
hunter leans against the trunk and gives
him lift. The trunk Is too large to get
a hold, and down slides the exhausted
go up that way suggests a member of
the party. and the climber takes another
tack. This time success crowns his eff
forts. and with monkeylike agility ne
scurries up the swinging limb and reaches
tiously, too, he works up toward the
coon. The green eyes are no longer on
the group below, but are riveted on this
new danger. Nearer the climber APP
that the fork is no longer the place for
him. Higher he goes, then out on lmb
The possum goes out on q limb at first.
but the coon only goes there when driven
It is his last stand in the tree top. It
does not require any large amount Of
shaking to dislodge Mr.. Coon. All he
needs is to be convinced that the man is
really coming out that limb. for no limb
s big enough TO bald y man and a coon
how high the tree or how many dogs are
waiting below? The man is crowding him
and it's time to leave.
Suddenly a round ball springs from the
limb into the blackness Of the night.
Watch out,
Full Grown Coon fellers: here he
Is a Game Fighter. the excited
climber. and the next second a coon
strikes the ground and the fight Is on.
He is big fellow and the dogs cover him
at once.
'I-ooh, LOO; zip, zip. yip." and
younger member Of the canine tribe leaves
the fight before the first round Is fairly
started, and limps off to the side lines,
subdued. surprised. d.sheveled, tail be-
tween his legs. He had been foolish
pup, for he closed in on big old coon
with enthusiasm and for his reward re-
ceived, in half a second. 2 chewed up
nose, a split ear. and a swipe down the
side that made the red blood come. An
other outburst of canine distress and the
second member OF the four-footed attack
ng Party MS ana Is para
got chewed foot and an ear was made
to LOOK like a sieve.
Hes a good 'un, fellers," yells de
lighted hunter as the excited group revel
veteran has backed up against the ire
trunk has squared himself for acto
and Is lighting savagely. big coon
with his rear thus protected and enabled
formidable proposition for dog or man
Each dog that sails In gets mauiin
quick as lightning. The strong hind paws
with t11.er sharp claws, are working INK
are busy. and sharp teeth and strong
jaws are making sausage meat Of the at
lacking for, e. But 1t Is soon oyel
There are two veterans in the paci
and the mauling Of the coon serve
attack. Besides. the younger dogs are GU
of the way, and the veterans have q c.ea
field. Over and over they roll the be
coon, choking and tearing him at tht
throat, and presently the round form
dogs lick their wounds and survey tn
quarry with doggish pride. The pup
stin occupy post ons of caution on tn
side lines. wondering how it all happened
A big fat coon is rolled In sack. tn
hunters pat the old dogs affectionately
and they're off in search Of another coon
It was an old bla nanny. discussin
the superlatives IN the realm of dainties
who declared the posspm was tthe bes
vegetable she ever et.' Parboil the "crt
ter changing the water several times
This gets rid Of much of the grease Pu
him In a pan with a hole in the bottom,
plug In the hole, and then plenty of live
Goals underneath. As the possum bakes
remove the plug from time to me an
draw Off the grease. for possum
nothing If not greasy. All the time thu
carcass should be basted with dressin
of pepper and vinegar. Boil some "swee
taters.'' and when the rossum Is abou
done, pack them about the brown carcass
and sprinkle them with sugar. Pour IN
some of the gravy that had been draw
from the pan, and let the potatoes com.
to a brown. Then, smoking. sayory am
tempt ng, this dish is:
"Possum meat-it am SO sweet
III