108 THE LIFE OF A FOX 



There is a tragical story connected with this 

 covert. The hounds many years since had met, 

 and the gentlemen were all assembled, when the 

 keeper who had the care of the coverts made his 

 appearance, and producing a sack in which there 

 was a fox, told them that unless they gave him a 

 certain sum of money for it to turn out and hunt, 

 he would shoot him before their eyes. This 

 atrocious threat made them all quite furious, and 

 they refused to give him anything ; on which this 

 monster in the shape of man immediately laid the 

 sack which contained the fox on the gi'ound, and 

 according to his threat shot him dead. The rage 

 which was felt by all present it is impossible to 

 describe. They did not put him in his own sack 

 and throw him into a pond close by ; but he was 

 soundly horsewhipped and instantly discharged 

 from his place. 



A much better feeling towards us now exists in 

 this part of the country, and I have no longer a 

 dread of being shot. But it is my intention to 

 return to my old country, near Billingbeare and 

 Shottesbrook, as I hear that the keepers there 

 receive strict orders never to destroy one of us. 

 This is the more handsome on the part of the 

 occupier of the latter place, as he is not a fox-hunter 



