The Springfield Fox 



to meet an i mislead the foes that might be com- 

 ing too near. 



The end is easily foreseen. Ranger followed 

 a hot trail to the den, and Spot, the fox-terrier, 

 announced that the family was at home, and 

 then did his best to go in after them. 



The whole secret was now out, and the whole 

 family doomed. The hired man came around 

 with pick and shovel to dig them out, while we 

 and the dogs stood by. Old Vix soon showed 

 herself in the near woods, and led the dogs 

 away off down the river, where she shook them 

 off when she thought proper, by the simple de- 

 vice of springing on a sheep's back. The 

 frightened animal ran for several hundred yards, 

 then Vix got off, knowing that there was now 

 a hopeless gap in the scent, and returned to the 

 den. But the dogs, baffled by the break in the 

 trail, soon did the same, to find Vix hanging 

 about in despair, vainly trying to decoy us away 

 from her treasures. 



Meanwhile Paddy plied both pick and shovel 

 with vigor and effect. The yellow, gravelly sand 

 was heaping on both sides, and the shoulders of 

 the sturdy digger were sinking below the level. 



212 



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