SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 101 



into the yawning abyss ; the poor brute had pre- 

 ferred falling into the jaws of his enemies to a 

 lingering death by starvation in the dark regions 

 beneath. Had we been aware of the dire extremity 

 to which this fox had been reduced, nothing would 

 have induced us to take his life ; and we reflected 

 with gratitude upon our escape from a fate which 

 might have been, save for his instinct, of the most 

 fearful kind. 



