228 THE LAND'S END 



downward course, as it ran through the roughest bit 

 of ground in all this roughest spot in West Cornwall, 

 and where it finished its course, rushing down through 

 a cleft into the sea, the sloping shore was abundantly 

 strewn with masses of granite lying everywhere 

 among the furze thicket, a spot where adders and 

 lizards (the longcripple, as called here) are common 

 in summer and a favourite refuge and dwelling-place 

 of the fox. A fox belonging to this spot distin- 

 guished himself at one of the small neighbouring 

 farms at the beginning of the cold spell. There were 

 two small farm-houses very little bigger than cottages 

 together, with nothing but a cart-road to divide them, 

 and each one had its hen-house close by. The fox 

 came, and the door not being properly fastened got in 

 and succeeded in carrying away eight fowls besides 

 injuring several more, without disturbing either the 

 inmates of the house or the dogs. A few nights 

 later he came again and finding the door locked 

 turned his attention to the second hen-house. It was 

 built of stone and the door was securely fastened, but 

 it had a thatched roof, and getting on it he gnawed 

 a hole big enough to let himself in. The fowls 

 screamed, the dogs barked, and the farmer, roused 

 from slumber, jumped out of bed and seizing his 

 gun rushed out. Just as he got up to the hen-house 

 he saw the fox pop up out of the hole in the thatch, 

 leap down and vanish into the black night. Twelve 

 fowls were found dead or dying of their bites as the 

 result of this attempt which was not a complete 

 success. 



