128 THE LIFE OF A FOX 



heard the piercing cry of a hound, which I then 

 beUeved was following me. I ran straight along the 

 top of the precipice, and was seen by the whipper- 

 in and some of the homids, and the noise they 

 instantly made by hallooing a view with all their 

 might, assisted by his lordship blo^^dng his horn, 

 attracted the notice of the other homids, or they 

 would otherwise have followed on the hne to certain 

 destruction. I attribute my escape to the powerful 

 effect this event had on the feelings of the OA\'ner of 

 the pack. Lest I should again lead them back to 

 the same spot, he immediately took them off my 

 scent and sent them home, and I flattered myself 

 that we should never again see these hounds run to 

 find a fox in this part of the country ; for the 

 anguish created in his lordship's mind it is impossible 

 for me to describe, although it may be easily 

 imagined. 



However, all my hopes of living a quiet life here 

 were destroyed. A great friend of his lordship's, 

 and of ours, Mr. AVilkie of Foulden, near where 

 this occurred, and on whose rabbits I sometimes 

 subsisted, immediately took measures to prevent 

 the same calamity from happening again ; and 

 although it was hitherto pronounced an impossibihty, 

 he has, as far as I at present can judge of it. 



