The Springfield Fox 



co account. One way is when hunted to walk 

 the rails for a long distance just before a train 

 comes. The scent, always poor on iron, is 

 destroyed by the train and there is always a 

 chance of hounds being killed by the engine. 

 But another way more sure, but harder to play, 

 is to lead the hounds straight to a high trestle 

 just ahead of the train, so that the engine over- 

 takes them on it and they are surely dashed 

 to destruction. 



This trick was skilfully played, and down 

 below we found the mangled remains of old 

 Ranger and learned that Vix was already 

 wreaking her revenge. 



That same night she returned to the yard 

 before Spot's weary limbs could bring him 

 back and killed another hen and brought it to 

 Tip, and stretched her panting length beside 

 him that he might quench his thirst. For she 

 seemed to think he had no food but what she 

 brought. 



It was that hen that betrayed to my uncle 

 the nightly visits. 



My own sympathies were all turning to Vix, 

 and I would have no hand in planning further 



22 I 



