AMERICAN CROSS FOX. 49 



until he meets his dog, which on hearing his master approach, generally 

 advances towards him, and leads the way to the place where he has 

 achieved his victory. 



We will now have another hunt, and pursue a Fox, that is within reach 

 of his burrow when we let loose our dog upon him. We will suppose 

 him " started ; " with loud shouts we encourage our , half-hound ; he 

 dashes away on the Fox's track, whilst the latter, with every muscle 

 strained to the utmost, is shortening the distance between himself and his 

 stronghold ; increasing his speed with his renewed hopes of safety, he 

 gains the entrance to his retreat, and throws himself headlong into it, re- 

 joicing at his escape. Whilst yet panting for breath, he hears his foe 

 barking at the entrance of his burrow, and flatters himself he is now be- 

 yond a peradventure safe. But perhaps we do injustice to his sagacity ; 

 he may have taken refuge in his hole, well aware of the possibility of his 

 being attacked there — ^yet what better could he do ? However this may 

 be, he has escaped one enemy, by means of a swift pair of heels, and has 

 only to dread the skill, perseverance, and invention of the hunter ; who 

 in time comes up, rigged out pretty much as we have already described 

 him, with spade, pick-axe, flint and steel. 



On arriving at the spot where the Fox has been (in select phrase) 

 " holed," the sportsman surveys the place, and if it is on level ground, 

 where he can use the spade, he throws off" his coat, and prepares for his 

 work wath a determination to have " that " fox, and no mistake ! He now 

 cuts a long slender stick, which he inserts in the hole, to ascertain in 

 what direction he shall dig the first pit. The edge or mouth of the burrow, 

 is generally elevated a little above the adjacent surface of the gi'ound, 

 by the earth which the Fox has brought from within ; and this slight 

 embankment, serves to keep out the rain water, that might otherwise 

 flow in from the vicinity in stormy weather. 



The burrow at first inclines do-wnward, for four or five feet, at an an 

 gle of about twenty-five degrees, it then inclines upward a little, which 

 is an additional security against inundations, and is continued, at a depth 

 of about three or four feet from the surface, untU it reaches a point where 

 it is divided into two or three galleries. 



This dividing point the hunter discovers after sinking three or four pits 

 — it is generally twenty or thirty feet from the entrance of the burrow. 

 The excavation is now made larger, the earth and rubbish thrown 

 out, the dog is placed in the hole thus laid open, and his aid is sought, 

 to ascertain into which branch of the gallery the Fox has retreated. 

 There are seldom any tortuous windings beyond the spot whence the 

 galleries diverge— the Fox is not far oflT. The stick is again inserted, and 



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