96 SOBAPSQUA 



my reach. Having the advantage of slipping 

 through intricacies that I floundered against, he 

 was gaining on me a httle, when Gabriel over- 

 hauled us and pounced upon him with a grip that 

 took the life out of the poor fox, yet not soon 

 enough to prevent one vengeful nip in the nose of 

 his slayer. Gabriel's angelic name came of his 

 voice, not of his temper, which was so kindled by 

 this last thrust of his foe that the handsome skin 

 was in danger of being spoiled before I could get 

 the fox away from him. When I began taking off 

 the pelt he curled himself up for a comfortable nap, 

 but a fresh twinge of his wounded nose suddenly 

 rekindled his smouldering wrath, and snatching 

 the fox out of my hands he gave it another violent 

 shaking, and 1 had to be severe with him before he 

 would let me finish. 



This done, we set forth in the homeward direc- 

 tion along the belt of woods on the north shore. 

 We had not gone far before Gabriel found a track 

 that engaged his earnest attention, whereof he 

 made loud proclamation while it led him across the 

 wide pasture to the woods of Cedar Point, which is 

 the southernmost headland of the cape and the 

 largest piece of woods upon it. In a moment the 

 woods were filled with quick reverberations of the 

 hound's melodious voice. Assured that the fox was 

 afoot and that there was no time to lose, I put my 

 best foot forward for the corner of a fence which 



