THE SNOW-WALKERS 45 



a fresh fall of snow, and see at all points where he 

 has crossed the road. Here he has leisurely passed 

 within rifle-range of the house, evidently reconnoi 

 tring the premises with an eye to the hen-roost. 

 That clear, sharp track, there is no mistaking it 

 for the clumsy footprint of a little dog. All his 

 wildness and agility are photographed in it. Here 

 he has taken fright, or suddenly recollected an en 

 gagement, and in long, graceful leaps, barely touch 

 ing the fence, has gone careering up the hill as fleet 

 as the wind. 



The wild, buoyant creature, how beautiful he is! 

 I had often seen his dead carcass, and at a distance 

 had witnessed the hounds drive him across the upper 

 fields; but the thrill and excitement of meeting him 

 in his wild freedom in the woods were unknown to 

 me till, one cold winter day, drawn thither by the 

 baying of a hound, I stood near the summit of the 

 mountain, waiting a renewal of the sound, that I 

 might determine the course of the dog and choose 

 my position, stimulated by the ambition of all 

 young Ximrods to bag some notable game. Long 

 I waited, and patiently, till, chilled and benumbed, 

 I Avas about to turn back, when, hearing a slight 

 noise, I looked up and beheld a most superb fox, 

 loping along with inimitable grace and ease, evi 

 dently disturbed, but not pursued by the hound, 

 and so absorbed in his private meditations that he 

 failed to see me, though I stood transfixed with 

 amazement and admiration, not ten yards distant. 

 I took his measure at a glance, a large male, with 



