Ubc 1Rev>. 3obn IRussell 329 



of whose sagacity his proud owner told this remarkable 

 story. 



' Do you see,' he said, ' that dark patch of hanging 

 gorse, hemmed in on the northern side by yonder 

 knoll? Well, I've seen many a good run from that 

 sheltered nook. On one occasion, however, I had 

 found a fox which, in spite of a trimming scent, 

 contrived to beat us by reaching Gray's Holts, and 

 going to ground before we could catch him. Now 

 those earths are fathomless and interminable as the 

 Catacombs. ^They are called "Gray" from the old 

 Devonshire name signifying a badger, a number of 

 those animals having long occupied the spot. Conse- 

 quently, such a fortress, once gained, is not easily to be 

 stormed, even by Tip or the stoutest foe. 



' We found that fox a second time ; and, while the 

 hounds were in close pursuit and driving hard, to my 

 surprise I saw Tip going off at full speed in quite 

 a different direction. 



" * He's off to Gray's Holts, sir, I know he is," shouted 

 Jack Yelland, the whip, as he called my attention to 

 the line of country the dog was then taking. 



' That proved to be the case. The fox had scarcely 

 been ten minutes on foot, when the dog, either by some 

 power akin to reason, or putting two and two together, 

 came to the conclusion that the real object of the fox 

 was to gain Gray's Holts, although the hounds were by 

 no means pointing in that direction. It was exactly as 

 if the dog had said to himself: "No, no! You're the 

 same fox, I know, that gave us the slip once before, 

 but you are not going to play us that trick again." 



' Tip's deduction was absolutely correct ; for, the fox, 

 after a turn or two in covert, made directly for Gray's 



