106 THE LIFE OF A FOX 



escaped. I saw enough of them to convince me 

 that they were not to be trifled with, and that a 

 tolerable scent would tax all my powers to beat 

 them. 



It was some years ago that I was lying in a 

 covert at Bilhngbeare, when I was startled by 

 Shirley's voice. I soon got away from the covert, 

 thinking that I was not seen, but I was mistaken. 

 A view-halloo was given, and the hounds were soon 

 on my scent. I went the best pace I could straight 

 towards and through the large woods at Shottes- 

 brook, and onwards in the direction of Maidenhead 

 thicket, where I passed through the middle of a 

 small village. As the hounds had not been seen or 

 heard, no one was looking out, and consequently 

 no one saw me, although I passed through a cottage 

 garden ; and it behoves me to state that I probably 

 owed my safety to nothing more dignified than a 

 pig-sty attached to that garden, and which neutral- 

 ised the scent ; for the hounds soon afterwards 

 hunting so far, were unable to hunt farther. It was 

 supposed by the huntsman that I had taken refuge 

 in some of the buildings, and a search was made ; 

 when a sportsman who was present expressed his 

 surprise to a gentleman well-known in the hunt 

 that they did not first hold on the hounds beyond 



