74 THE LIFE OF A FOX 



shortly after seen in the plantation, and hunted 

 closely by the hounds, which, after another long 

 check, again got on my scent in the wood where I 

 was first found. They hunted me very fast across 

 some of the finest gTass country, and I was obhged 

 to take refuge in a drain under a road leading to a 

 field, where fortunately I found another fox, and 

 succeeded in getting beyond him in his retreat. It 

 often occurs that the fox which is hunted and 

 frightened forces his way beyond the fresh one, and 

 there remains during the operation of digging, and 

 when the huntsmen come by, the fresh fox is drawn 

 out and given to the hounds. Such was the case 

 now, and so I escaped, for luckily it was getting 

 late, and the hounds were taken away immediately 

 without their discovering that I was left behind. 

 I had time to remark that only one man, who was 

 addressed as his Grace, was with the hounds at the 

 finish, or indeed for a long time during the run, 

 nearly all having left at the time of slow-hunting. 



And now, my friends, I have done. 



*' Done ! Tell us first what has become of our 

 friend old King Stumpy. There is a rumour that 

 he is dead, and I do not perceive any one here 

 without a brush." 



Alas ! he is no more. He was captured, and 



