The Springfield Fox 



foxes were, and the old ones were taking turns 

 in trying to lead us away. 



It was late night now, so we went home feel- 

 ing sure that the problem was nearly solved. 



II 



It was well known that there was an old fox 

 with his family living in the neighborhood, but 

 no one supposed them so near. 



This fox had been called ' Scarface,' be- 

 cause of a scar reaching from his eye through 

 and back of his ear ; this was supposed to have 

 been given him by a barbed-wire fence during 

 a rabbit hunt, and as the hair came in white 

 after it healed, it was always a strong mark. 



The winter before I had met with him and had 

 had a sample of his craftiness. I was out shoot- 

 ing, after a fall of snow, and had crossed the 

 open fields to the edge of the brushy hollow 

 back of the old mill. As my head rose to a 

 view of the hollow I caught sight of a fox 

 trotting at long range down the other side, in 

 line to cross my course. Instantly I held mo- 

 tionless, and did not even lower or turn my 



191 





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jT 



