250 THE SPORT OF KINGS 



hounds, but our friend always managed to save 

 his handsome brush. Some there were who 

 thought that hounds chopped him ; but I think 

 the listless unenterprising fox that jumped up out 

 of a hedge-back after the covert had been drawn 

 blank, and made no effort to save his life, could 

 scarcely be the same gallant fellow whose usual 

 policy was that of the Tar Wood fox, who 



Went away, he was not found. 



Several hunting diaries of Masters of Hounds, 

 huntsmen, and others who have been careful to 

 chronicle what they have seen, have come through 

 my hands at one time or another, and in them are 

 frequently chronicled the doings of some gallant 

 fox, whose exploits are spoken of in terms of the 

 highest praise. Time after time in them appears 

 the entry : " Found that good old fox," or " that 

 stout old fox again " ; but somehow it rarely 

 happens that a fox who has earned this character 

 by beating hounds time after time is killed by 

 them, for one would naturally expect the death of 

 such a vulpine hero to be recorded. Well then 

 may the question be asked, " What becomes of the 

 good foxes ? " 



