66 SQUIRRELS AND OTHER FUR-BEARERS 



of a fox, hard and long pressed, that took to 

 a rail-fence, and, after walking some distance, 

 made a leap to one side to a hollow stump, in 

 the cavity of which he snugly stowed himself. 

 The ruse succeeded, and the dogs lost the trail; 

 but the hunter, coming up, passed by chance 

 near the stump, when out bounded the fox, his 

 cunning availing him less than he deserved. On 

 another occasion the fox took to the public road, 

 and stepped with great care and precision into a 

 sleigh-track. The hard, polished snow took no 

 imprint of the light foot, and the scent was no 

 doubt less than it would have been on a rougher 

 surface. Maybe, also, the rogue had considered 

 the chances of another sleigh coming along, be- 

 fore the hound, and obliterating the trail entirely. 

 Audubon tells of a fox, which, when started 

 by the hounds, always managed to elude them at 

 a certain point. Finally the hunter concealed 

 himself in the locality, to discover,. if possible, 

 the trick. Presently along came the fox, and, 

 making a leap to one side, ran up the trunk of 

 a fallen tree which had lodged some feet from 

 the ground, and concealed himself in the top. 

 In a few minutes the hounds came up, and in 

 their eagerness passed some distance beyond the 

 point, and then went still farther, looking for 

 the lost trail. Then the fox hastened down, 



