LARGE FOX KILLED. 109 



again we suddenly come to a check; but, after searching 

 some time in vain for his track or scent, I unexpectedly find 

 his footmark in a deep dry drain which divides the pasturage 

 from the wooded wilderness. There is no mistaking it. So 

 I call the dogs, who, tired and stiff as they are, come joyfully 

 to the holloa. At first they only sniff in an uncertain man- 

 ner up the drain ; but at last the youngest hound gives 

 tongue at a spot where some grass or heather had retained 

 the scent longer than elsewhere, and they are all soon again in 

 full cry. I still keep with the hounds to help and encourage 

 them, when presently I hear a shot, and rightly guess that 

 my friend, whom I had left shivering long ago in a pass, had 

 killed the roe. He turned out to be a fine buck ; so after 

 paunching him, and rewarding the dogs with blood and liver, 

 &c., &c., which they wait patiently for, not attempting to 

 tear the animal itself, we get it conveyed to the place where 

 I had left my car. 



Passing through a wood on our way, the old hound, who 

 was not coupled, suddenly threw up his nose, and before I 

 could prevent him was off in full cry into the cover. I 

 managed to stop the rest of the dogs, not wishing them to 

 have any more running, as they were all tired out, and went 

 alone to get back Durwood. From his tone I soon knew that 

 it was a fox he was after, as when hunting this animal his 

 cry was always different from what it was when on the scent 

 of a roe. 1 found it of no use going through the cover ; so I 

 waited in the wide road towards which he seemed coming. 

 Presently, quick as lightning, and without the slightest 

 noise, a very large dog-fox sprang into the road. He snuffed 

 the air right and left with an eager look, but seemed not to 

 observe me, for I was standing quite still close to the trunk 

 of a birch tree. He then listened to the hound ; and finding 

 that he was going eastward, the fox came trotting up the 

 road directly towards me. When within about eighty yards 

 he suddenly stopped, and seemed to suspect my presence. 

 I had had my gun up to my shoulder for some time ; and the 

 moment, he stopped I pulled the trigger, trusting to a B. B. 

 cartridge, notwithstanding the distance. He immediately 

 began tumbling about, dancing on his head, and springing 

 into the air. I ran up to give him the contents of the other 

 barrel, which was loaded with small shot, but he had dis- 

 appeared ; however, with the help of the hound, who had 

 now come up, I found him within twenty yards of the road. 

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