146 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



they leaped the wall, than he sprang back again over 

 it, and by this cunning device gave them the slip, and 

 got safe away from his pursuers.' 



An American gentleman of Pittsfield, accompanied 

 by two bloodhounds, found a fox and pursued him for 

 nearly two hours, when suddenly the dogs appeared at 

 fault. Their master came up to them near a large log 

 of wood lying on the ground, and felt much surprise 

 at their making a circuit of a few roods without any 

 object in view ; every trace of the fox seemed to have 

 been lost, while the dogs still kept yelping. On looking 

 'about him, the gentleman saw the fox stretched upon the 

 log, apparently lifeless. He made several unsuccessful 

 efforts to direct the attention of the dogs towards the 

 place, and at length he approached so near as to see 

 the animal breathe. Even then Reynard did not show 

 any alarm ; but his pursuer aimed a blow at him with 

 the branch of a tree, upon which he leaped from his 

 lurking-place, and was taken. 



One of the drollest incidents in fox-hunting was that 

 at Newry, in Ireland, when, being pursued very hotly, 

 the fox leaped on to the top of a turf-stack, where he 

 laid himself down quite flat. At last one of the hounds 

 perceived him, and he was obliged again to run. After 

 this he climbed up a stone wall, whence he sprang on to 

 the roof of a cabin near by, and mounting to the chimney 

 top, from thence inspected his enemies. An old hound, 

 however, followed him, and was on the point of seizing 

 him, when Reynard dropped down the chimney into the 

 lap of an old woman, who was smoking her pipe at the 

 corner. The hound did not dare to follow, but the 

 sportsmen came up, and entering the cabin, found it in 

 possession of the fox ; the frightened woman and chil- 



