WIL\"S STORY 33 



I was not hunted by hounds, and contrived to 

 extend my rambles till I was acquainted with a 

 great part of the country. Occasionally lying in 

 my kennel, if in an open covert, and hearing a 

 pack of hounds in full cry near, I moved off in an 

 opposite direction, but sometimes not without 

 being seen by some of the wide and skirting 

 hunters, who lost their day's sport in riding after 

 me and hallooing " Tally-ho ! " but I always kept 

 quiet in my kennel when I heard hounds in full 

 cry if I happened to be in a strong gorse- covert. 

 Thus passed off the greater part of the first winter 

 of my hfe. 



On one occasion I was lying in rather an exposed 

 place by the side of a pit, in the middle of a field, 

 when I saw a man pass by on horseback, who, on 

 seeing me, stopped, and after looking a short time, 

 rode on. Till the noise of his horse's feet was out 

 of hearing I listened, and then stole away, which 

 was most fortunate, for in the course of a few 

 hours the hounds were brought to the pit, the man 

 having told the huntsman where he had seen me, 

 as he thought, asleep ; though we foxes, however it 

 may seem, are seldom otherwise than wide awake. 



AVhen the month of February arrived, I showed 

 my gaUantry by going and visiting an interesting 



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