102 *^ THE LIFE OF A FOX 



huntsman, nor the reverend friend who called him- 

 self first whipper-in, were up at the time, as they 

 were generally mounted on thorough-bred horses, 

 which they well knew how to ride. For myself, it 

 is a well-known fact that I have been turned out 

 and hunted by these hounds eighteen times, though 

 I have striven hard to get away. On no occasion 

 was I injured by the hounds, and I must do my 

 possessor justice by stating that he thoroughly 

 understands the nature of aU the animals that he 

 had to manage. 



The extraordinary distance which we ran, when 

 hunted by these hounds, may be attributed to our 

 perfect ignorance of the country where we were 

 turned out, which also accounts for our not oftener 

 running at once to the impracticable parts which 

 abound here, and in which no horses could have 

 followed the hounds. In consequence of our know- 

 ing none of the coverts, we often ran straight across 

 Dartmoor, where the scent was so good that the 

 pace at which we were followed by the hounds 

 made it often most severe work for us ; and it 

 became almost a relief to be taken up and replaced 

 in the bag, which was carried for that purpose, and 

 reconveyed to our gloomy prison, where we were 

 well supplied with rabbits and other food. 



