WILY^S STORY ** 19 



still, reached the ears of my mother, who quickly 

 came and helped me with her teeth to finish the 

 work which 1 had begun, and so I got out and away. 



Having thus suffered for my boldness, I scarcely 

 ever ventured out of the covert till dark, or nearly 

 so ; generally, indeed, I remained in my kennel the 

 whole of the day, unless I had not been fortunate 

 in procuring food the night before. 1 have seen a 

 female fox, when she had young ones, moving about 

 earher in the afternoon ; otherwise it is contrary to 

 our habits to do so. Night is more dear to us than 

 day, and the tempest suits our plans ; for man is 

 then disposed to keep quiet, and we venture more 

 boldly to approach his dweUings in search of stray 

 poultry, which are to be found abroad, not having 

 been driven into the hen-roost, owing to the neglect 

 of their owners. 



I resolved to accompany my mother in future as 

 much as possible in her excursions, that I might 

 profit by her prudence and observe her ways. She 

 seldom went abroad till night, though sometimes 

 she would venture in the dusk of evening. Upon 

 one occasion I was much amused with an example 

 of her engaging tricks. It was a bright moonhght 

 night when 1 saw her go into a field, in which 

 many rabbits and hares were feeding. On first 



