The Springfield Fox 



around. There was that fox still going on, 

 farther and farther away. The woodchuck grew 

 bold as the fox went, and came out farther, and 

 then seeing the coast clear, he scrambled onto 

 the stump, and with one spring Vixen had him 

 and shook him till he lay senseless. Scarface 

 had watched out of the corner of his eye and 

 now came running back. But Vixen took the 

 chuck in her jaws and made for the den, so he 

 saw he wasn't needed. 



Back to the den came Vix, and carried the 

 chuck so carefully that he was able to struggle 

 a little when she got there. A low 'woo/' at 

 the den brought the little fellows out like school- 

 boys to play. She threw the wounded animal 

 to them and they set on him like four little 

 furies, uttering little growls and biting little 

 bites with all the strength of their baby jaws, 

 but the woodchuck fought for his life and beat- 

 ing them off slowly hobbled to the shelter of a 

 thicket. The little ones pursued like a pack 

 of hounds and dragged at his tail and flanks, but 

 could not hold him back. So Vix overtook 

 him with a couple of bounds and dragged him 

 again into the open for the children to worry. 



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