100 The Fox 
hounds, he tries in succession several blocks to the 
trail, thus gaining time and tiring the dogs. I once 
knew a fox to throw the hound from the trail by 
taking to the highway for a distance, passing among 
a large number of cows feeding about a stack, and 
finally walking a fence; all this within half a mile. 
Why did the fox go among the cows? Did he reason 
that his passage would scarcely be noticed, whereas 
the hound would create quite a disturbance among 
the cattle,—enough disturbance to confuse him and 
perhaps cause him to lose the trail? Since the fox 
was far in advance of the hound and there was no 
immediate need for such an unusual act, and knowing 
as I do the cunning of Reynard, I am led to believe 
that this move was not entirely accidental. 
I knew one fox to enter a village while being 
pursued; another ran into a large barn by one door 
and out through another on the opposite side; and 
still a third crossed the dooryard of a farmhouse 
and went upon the porch where a man was stand- 
ing, actually crouching nearly exhausted at his feet 
as though begging protection from the relentless 
hound. 
When the snow is soft and deep the dog with his 
longer legs has the advantage, and sometimes the 
fox is overtaken and killed. At such times, I ob- 
