ALONG FOUR-FOOTED TRAILS 



raised their tails and backed off in alarm. There 

 stood a great red fox within a few feet of them. 

 Snip was between Mongola and their cunning 

 enemy. I rushed to their rescue, but as I 

 stepped from the door the fox grabbed poor 

 little Snip and made off with him. The fox 

 seemed to laugh at my frantic efforts and grief. 

 He stopped and looked back with poor little 

 Snip dangling from his mouth as he held him 

 firmly by the neck which he had crushed between 

 his jaws. Then off he galloped with long leaps 

 and was soon lost to view. As he disappeared 

 behind the hill the brilliant sunset was hidden 

 by a gray cloud that had floated between earth 

 and sky as though in sympathy with me. I 

 turned in despair and clasped little Mongola in 

 my arms and wept. It was too cruel; within 

 six weeks time two of my useful little pets had 

 been taken from me! Poor lonely Mongola 

 stuck his nose against my neck, then raised his 

 little face to mine and licked my cheek in silent, 

 brute sympathy. 



Mongola was now full grown and about the 

 size of our house-cat. His hind-quarters were 

 much the heavier, giving to his back a graceful 

 ['94] 



