THE FOX 135 



do press him, it is almost impossible to say how 

 much beaten he is ; for it has happened often to 

 the writer, who probably has enjoyed more of this 

 midnight sort of scenery than most men, that 

 when he has been determined to kill a fox, which 

 from his running short and amongst the hounds 

 in cover for a long time, it appeared that he was 

 so beaten, that they would kill in a few minutes, 

 the fox has, after dark, broke away, and taken 

 an open country, when it has been necessary to 

 stop the hounds, as it was impossible to see a 

 fence. It should also be recollected that when 

 hounds have run a fox till dark, they are not so 

 fresh as in the morning, therefore the difference 

 of the scent tells doubly on them ; but if scent 

 does return after a hard run, it is wonderful to 

 see what courage and stoutness is left in a pack 

 which appeared beaten. And it is one of the most 

 rare events in hunting to see a whole pack quite 

 beaten, although to casual observers they may 

 appear so ; but it happens occasionally, when they 

 have this appearance after a very hard run and a 

 long check, and have given it up, that the hunted 

 fox has been moved, and it is then seen that those 

 same hounds will run clean away from those very 

 men who were probably remarking that the hounds 

 were dead-beaten. 



