132 THE LIFE OF A FOX 



tion, the keeper assured them of his beUef, that there 

 were as many pheasants left as had been there at 

 the begmning of the season, excepting those that 

 had been shot by sportsmen. Now if I, or any of 

 us, were so much given to destroy game as we are 

 reported to be, there would not have been a pheasant 

 left alive in a week's time from the beginning of 

 the season, whereas it was now nearly the end of it. 

 This fortunately occurred in the presence of several 

 persons, who saw all three of us. No less than five 

 other foxes from the same park have been killed 

 by Lord Elcho and his pack this season. 



Hoping that I have given you all sufficient 

 encouragement to induce you to make us a \dsit in 

 the north, I conclude my story. 



