After selecting the largest of the two animals, he prepared and cooked it, and then put away the other where he intended to sleep.

I now saw that he had not the remotest intention of giving any to me, and asked him what he intended to do with the other one.

He replied that he should be hungry in the morning, and meant to keep it until then.

Upon hearing this I told him that his arrangements were very good, and that for the future I would follow the same system also; and that each should depend upon his own exertions in procuring food; hinting to him that as he was so much more skilful than I was, and as we had so very little flour left, I should be obliged to reserve this entirely for myself, but that I hoped he would have no difficulty in procuring as much food as he required.

I was then about to open the flour-bag and take a little out for my supper, when he became alarmed at the idea of getting no more, and stopped me, offering the other opossum, and volunteering to cook it properly for me.