144 THE FOX IN SUMMER 



gorse, is impelled to throw out an eager whimper; 

 Fugleman, Singer, and Rallywood press to the sound, 

 and the bushes crack and wave as they press. Their 

 ecstatic notes set the horses capering, thrill the very 

 souls of their riders, and bring vexation and alarm 

 to the ruddy-brown animal who lies coiled up like 

 a snake among the driest of grass or bracken in the 

 sunniest spot in the covert. Quickly getting on his 

 legs, Reynard glides ventre a terre to his earth. It 

 is stopped, but he guesses as much, and, by no means 

 disconcerted, he threads his way to the covert fence. 

 If the coast be clear he will away at once to Pinch- 

 me-near Forest, but the chatter of many tongues, 

 the stamp and snort of steeds, and the aroma of 

 tobacco proclaim that here is stationed the field ; and 

 though he probably guesses that his best chance 

 would be to charge out straight through the throng, 

 when many of them would infallibly ride after him 

 and completely foil the scent, yet such policy is 

 contrary to his inclinations and the traditions of his 

 race. 



He wishes to slip away unseen, and the first few 

 moments of his flight he would desire to devote to 

 consideration of chances. 



He knows so well all the surroundings of the covert, 

 you see ! If he can slip through the usual smeuse 

 in the thick bullfinch which bounds the next field, 

 not a soul will observe him, and then he can steal 

 along by the side-fence and have time to peer into 

 the lane where that infernal dog coursed him the 

 last time, and try if he can cross in safety. 



So he stealthily works round by the covert fence, 



