FOXES 97 



fox had gone through the wood-hedge, and sat 

 there till the huntsman at length came up. Had 

 he been Sir Charles, the fox would have had but 

 a short shrift, but when I remarked that the fox 

 had gone in there, and I was certain he was 

 lying down close b}', I received but a growl in 

 reply ; and much annoyed at having been left so 

 far behind in such a brilliant gallop, the hunts- 

 man jumped into the wood and went down the 

 nearest ride. Presently I heard his voice reced- 

 ing farther and farther away, and at length in 

 about twenty minutes time he proceeded to blow 

 the hounds out at the further end of the covert, 

 never having touched on the scent at all. Two 

 or three companions had remained with me, so 

 before leaving the place I said to them, " Just 

 let's see if the fox is not here all the time," and 

 jumping into the wood I was beginning to search 

 the long grass and thorns at its edge, when up 

 jumped the fox, which had not been five yards 

 from us all the time. We gave no sign, and let 

 him crawl away, for as the huntsman had refused 

 to be helped, and had fairly lost his fox, we 

 thought the latter should not have an unfair 

 advantage taken now over him, after he had 

 given such a gallant run. 



Sometimes a fox may be seen during a run 

 sitting up on his haunches, gravely looking back 

 at his pursuers. If he should wait till they have 

 approached comparatively near before he moves 

 off, depend upon it he has some well-considered 

 plan of escape in his mind, most likely a safe 

 refuge hard by. Certainly it is odds against 

 handling that fox unless his schemes are upset 

 by something other than the hounds themselves. 

 He would not be so confident if he was not sure 

 8 



