156 THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 



and puzzled, *' if he has been headed back? " 



Rubicx>n, who must have had a remarkably 

 strong stomach, now jumped upon the steam- 

 ing, reeking, stinking heap, and, plunging 

 his nose under a loose portion at the top, drew 

 out the fox by a hind leg. In an instant we 

 flew to his assistance, and for the first and 

 last time in my life, I helped to kill a fox on 

 a dung heap. 



** Well ! " said our master, wiping his bald 

 head, and looking as pleased as at any period 

 that I ever saw him, * ' we wind up the season 

 with a glorious finish. We were too far 

 behind to see," he continued; '' but of course 

 they must have viewed him into the manure." 



"No doubt, sir," replied Will, "or he 

 would most likely have beaten us." 



*' It only shows," rejoined the Squire, " to 

 what improbable shifts a sinking fox will have 

 resort. How often men's brains are racked to 

 discover the why and wherefore that a fox 

 could have beaten their judgment and experi- 

 ence, when, perhaps, he may be close to their 

 elbows without the smallest blame to be 

 attached to either hounds or them for his 



) » 



escape. 



" Or merit to his craft and cunning, you 



