THE FOX 75 



looked over at the yard, and the game hens used for 

 hatching out the pheasants' eggs. It was too much 

 for the keeper to put up with. Slipping a cartridge 

 into his gun, he swung it up to his shoulder and let 

 drive at the fox, saying, * there's notice to quit, you 

 thund'rin' sweep ! ' Then did Master Reynard play 

 some extraordinary antics. First he jumped off the 

 ground several times in the most lively manner, then 

 he cuffed his ears vigorously with his fore- feet, gave a 

 bit of a yelp, and bolted at top speed. His skin is 

 thick, and what would knock other things over would 

 not cripple him. 



When the hunters and the hounds chevy him 

 across the fields honest farmer Giles complains most 

 bitterly. ' Dash my old gaiters, if I doan't wish as 

 every warmint of a fox as ever run was cold and stiff, 

 that I do ; an' 'tis a pity as some folks ain't got better 

 work for their hosses than ridin' over other people's 

 craps an' breakin' fences an' gates. Tis wonderful 

 what a likin' most of 'em have fur blunderin' thru a 

 fence an' knockin' the padlock off a gate. Why doan't 

 they jump over 'em ? ef their hearts was as big as 

 their hosses hap they wud. That there field of tur- 

 mits will be punched inter sheep feed, they wunt want 

 to go inter no cuttin' machine. Cuss all fox huntin ', 

 I sez ; 'tis ruin for farmers ! ' 



