Fox-Hunting in New England. 



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tongue from time 

 slowly work the 

 of an overhang- 



< ignore the youngster, and works 

 his way steadily toward the 

 wooded edge of the hill, never 

 increasing his speed, nor abat- 

 ing the carefulness of his 

 scenting. Now his tuneful notes 

 become more frequent. If you 

 have the heart of a fox-hunter, 

 they are the sweetest music to 

 your ears in all the world. Up 

 the steep side 

 of the hill he 

 takes his way, 

 the young dog 

 following, and 

 both giving 

 to time. They 

 trail to the top 

 ing ledge, and 



now there is a hush ; but, almost before the echo of their last notes 

 has died away, forth bursts a wild storm of canine music. Reynard is 

 afoot, or, as we Yankees say, "the fox is started," and the reeking 

 scent of his recent footsteps steams' hot in the nostrils of his pursuers. 

 The hounds are now out of sight, but you hear every note of their 

 jubilant song as they describe a small circle beyond the ledge, and 

 then go northward along the crest of the hill. Their baying grows 

 fainter and fainter as they bear away to the further side, till at last it 

 is almost drowned by the gurgle of the brook. 



Now, get with all speed to "the Notch," which divides the north 

 from the south hill, for this the fox will pretty surely cross when 

 he comes back, if back he comes, after making a turn or two or 

 three at the north end. On this habit of his, of running in circles, 

 and in certain run-ways as he goes from hill to hill, or from wood to 

 wood, is founded our method of hunting him. If he" plays" in small 

 circles, encompassing an acre or so, as he often will for half an hour 

 at a time before a slow dog, you cautiously work up to leeward of 

 him and try your chances for a shot. If he encircles the whole hill, 

 or crosses from hill to hill, there are certain points, which every fox, 



