50 Random Recoi.i.kctions of the: 



the fox unfortunately happened to cross the farm 

 where he was located, he was sure to turn up and 

 make his evil propensities manifest ; for, when 

 scent was cool and hounds had to pick it up, 

 with one ear cocked and the other laid back he 

 would chase them right and left, biting, strik- 

 ing, kicking, and sending his victims limping 

 and howling in all directions. Will and his 

 whips, of course, were sharp to the rescue, 

 aided by several of the field, who tried to 

 administer punishment and drive away the 

 intruder. But this was no easy matter, for so 

 quick and cunning was the brute that, as they 

 thought they were going for him on one side, 

 he would dodge and let fly as he shot past on 

 the other, and defy all attempts to catch him 

 a stinger. One day I happened to be an eye- 

 witness of this, when hounds took a line over 

 the owner's land, scent being weak and pace 

 slow, the fox running parallel with a line of 

 gates, some of which being open it was im- 

 possible to cut him off before he had enjoyed a 

 wicked innings. But as we passed a farmyard, 

 the doors of which had luckily been left open, 

 he turned in, and we quickly took care to close 

 them and leave the demon a prisoner. I 

 don't know that any of the hounds suffered 



