98 The Fox 
from place to place in search of food. This fact is 
taken advantage of by hunters, and the runways must 
be located before success in the hunt can be expected. 
In the fall of 1880 foxes were very plentiful in the 
State of New York on the hills between the Una- 
dilla and Chenango rivers. There was scarcely any 
snow until late in November, and when it did come 
it was very dry, the wind blowing it from the fields 
and hill tops, and drifting it along the fences. Not- 
withstanding the bareness of the fields, thoughts of 
the old time sport tempted the more adventurous 
hunters. Two of these enthusiastic Nimrods set 
forth with a well trained hound before the snow had 
stopped sifting about even in the less exposed places. 
The hound soon struck a trail, and as the track was 
fresh he seemed to fly over the snow. The deep 
toned baying sent the blood tingling through the 
veins of both pursuer and pursued. The first hunt 
of the season was really on! The men took positions 
of vantage on the supposed runway, watching and 
listening carefully for the expected game. Meanwhile 
the hound had gone quite out of hearing to the north. 
An hour passed and no fox appeared. Nothing was 
heard save the baying of the hound far away to the 
east. In half an hour the fox appeared in a valley, 
over which the hunters commanded a distinct view. 
