Vixen 1 23 



given him by a barbed-wire fence during a rab« 

 bit hunt, and as the hair came in white after it 

 healed, it was always a strong mark. 



The winter before I had met with him and 

 had had a sample of his craftiness. I was out 

 shooting, after a fall of snow, and had crossed 

 the open fields to the edge of the brushy hollow 

 back of the old mill. As my head rose to a view 

 if the hollow I caught sight of a fox trotting at 

 .ong range down the other side, in line to cross 

 my course. Instantly I held motionless, and 

 did not even lower or turn my head lest I should 

 catch his eye by moving, until he went on out 

 of sight in the thick cover at the bottom. As 

 soon as he was hidden I bobbed down and ran 

 to head him off where he should leave the cover 

 on the other side, and was there in good time 

 awaiting, but no fox came forth. A careful look 

 showed the fresh track of a fox that had bounded 

 from the cover, and following it with my eye 1 

 saw old Scarface himself far out of range be- 

 hind me, sitting on his haunches and grinning 

 as though much amused. 



A study of the trail made all clear. He had 

 seen me at the moment I saw him, but he, also 

 like a true hunter, had concealed the fact, put- 

 ting on an air of unconcern till out of sight, 

 when he had run for his life around behind me 



