ANTICS OF A BLACK FOX. 181 



the mischief was he about ? mad surely, and for this 

 reason, no creature in his senses could otherwise make 

 such a fool of himself. First he took hold of his tail, and 

 spun round like a kitten, next moment he was turning 

 summersaults, or struggling on his back, kicking his legs 

 in the air; then the tail-triok was reverted to again, and so 

 on. For several minutes I stood transfixed ; pug was too far 

 off to shoot at, and any attempt at a stalk was too dangerous 

 to put into practice. But my patience was not severely 

 taxed. With a sudden spring the fox dashed forward ; up 

 flew a dozen Spruce grouse, and the black-coated gentle- 

 man, with a bird in his mouth, quietly trotted towards 

 cover, giving me a cross shot at forty yards' range a 

 chance which I was not slow to avail myself of. With the 

 report, pug turned head over heels, but quickly picked 

 himself up, forgetting however his prey, and made for the 

 timber. Hurriedly 1 gained the bird small consolation 

 for my disappointment ; but my hopes were again revived, 

 for my little cur dog took up the scent, and waking the 

 echoes with his significant bark, went off as if he intended 

 work. At the best pace 1 could command I followed, 

 singing every few strides a word of encouragement to my 

 trusty companion. Farther and farther into the woods I 

 advanced, but soon it was so dark that at length, with 

 barked shins and sundry tumbles, I was obliged to give up 

 the pursuit. Several times in the chase I came to a stand- 

 still, and as often as I did so, Prince's voice appeared as if 

 he had brought the foe to bay. Halting for the last time 

 the same thing occurred, and as the dog did not appear to 

 be much over a hundred yards distant, I determined to 



