ALviic.ii in, 1882.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



126 



he gpvrimqmt §<mritt. 



THE OLD RED FOX OF BALD MOUNTAIN. 



[CONCLUDED.] 



I HAD iu the meantime heard much of the old red fox, as 

 during (he season scarcely a week passed that the dogs 

 did not hare a race witlthim. It would take columns to 



portray (lie many exciting tales told of Ids successful efforts 

 ii al beautiful brash; ever ou the alert, always cool 

 and Self-possessed, lie seemed instinctively to locate every one 

 of his enemies and uo matter how close a corner they got 

 liim iUtO, lie would always by some sly maneuver that they 

 least expected manage to 'leave them, if not actually fci ri l| 

 thcir hair and gnashing their teeth, at least in a frame of 

 mind very conducive to this condition. Many of these 

 :' i' a place in history. One of his ex- 



traordinary escapes particularly struck me as very remark- 

 able' for its display of intelligence. I was perhaps" the more 

 impressed wilh this shrewd trick as I arrived upon the scene 

 just in rime to witness the blank looks of the crowd when 

 they discovered that thej were sold again. 



There had been no hunting for several days, owing to the 

 severe cold and a heavy fall of snow that had drifted badly 

 and was crusted hard enough to bear up a man ; at last the wind 

 veered toward the south, it grew warmer, and a few 

 scattered flakes of snow gave promise of a glorious day on 

 the morrow. 1 had for some time heeu anxiously awaiting 

 just this state of affairs, and as soon as 1 caught a glimpse of 

 the first white-Winged messenger in the air, 1 hastened to the 

 depot and was just in lime to catch tile train. I arrived at 

 my destination a little after dark, but was still several miles 

 from my old home. I supposed that I should have no trouble 

 in finding a team to take me over, but after an hour spent in 

 fruitless efforts, 1 found that I was literally in a one-horse 

 town, every team was away but one; and old Hopkins, the 

 owner of this steed would not budge an inch, "for the old 

 niaro was skittish in the night/' but as a compromise he said 

 that he would keep me all night and take me over at the 

 break of day. As 1 could do no better I was forced to be 

 content. He was as good as his word and routed me up in 

 good season. When 1 came out I found the team readv, and 

 my eyes were gladdened at beholding four or live inches of 

 moist snow. Deeply thankful for this and blessing my lucky 

 stars for so early a start, I took my scat in the cutter and we 

 Were off. The light from the lantern Hashed upon us as we 

 started, and I noticed a kink in the old marc's tail that I did 

 n half like, but did not pay much attention to it 

 at the time, as my mind was preoccupied dreaming of the 

 glorious run that we were sure to have on so perfect a day as 

 this promised to be. We had gone three or four miles "and 

 notwithstanding my abstraction, I had a dim consciousness 

 that we were getting along at a lively rate, when I was fully 

 aroused from my reverie by the frantic, efforts of Hopkins to 

 keep the old mare down to her work. She cut up in such a 

 way I hat I began to think that the old man had spoken the 

 truth and that she really was skittish. We went but a short 

 distance further before I was perfectly satisfied that ho knew 

 what he was talking about. It was now broad daylight and 

 1 could see just ahead that the road made a sharp curve and 

 wound round down a steep descent. Not cpiite liking the 

 idea oi' j.ea: down flic hill at this rate of speed, I advised 

 him to pull .her into the ditch where the hard crust wordd 

 soon bring her to terms. 



1 have since calmly reviewed the whole performance, and 

 have come to the conclusion thai as a common carrier old 

 HopkiEC was liable in an action for damages for following 

 such pernicious advice, for no sooner did he gee her off than 

 she put on more steam; and the way we tore through the 

 crust was a caution. We soon came Iodic curve and plunged 

 into a drift; the old mare kept right on, and so did her 

 owner. The. cutter shared the fate of the "Deacon's one- 

 horse shay." I could not tell whether I turned two or three 

 somersaults, but I struck all right, sitting, and with force 

 enough to stick, and luckily fading the right way to get an 

 excellent though fleeting view of old Hopkins, as at a terrific 

 speed, prone upon his belly, he slid down the icy declivity, 

 and, with arms and legs wildly gyrating, disappeared in a 

 cedar thicket. Profoundly grateful that mine eves had beheld 

 the inspiriting sight, I rose to my feet to go and see if he 

 was bui t. I went, and in the same style, only that I was the 

 other side up. I did not have his good send off. and conse- 

 quently failed to make his extraordinary time; nevertheless, 

 when I reached the cedars 1 was greatly surprised at the 

 great difference between perfect rest and the exhilarating 

 speed of ' my descent. Neither of us sustained any serious 

 injur)': and crawliflg back to the remains of the cutter, I 

 found my gun all Tight, and throwing it over my shoulder, 

 1 left my traps with Hopkins to forward, and bravely struck 

 out for old Bald Mountain, nearly five miles off. 



On account of the bad walking, I did not arrive there until 

 the sun was more than two hours high. Observing quite a 

 Crowd iponthe hillside, I soon joined them, and was just in 

 fame to witness their djUjcoroiltUre. It appeared that they 

 had held an im ie iation meeting the past evening, and had 

 unanimously resolved that the old red must die. They hail 

 accordingly niu -a Lied in force, and formed a cordon across 

 the mountain through which the wilv trickster could not 

 pass. At daybreak they unleashed the dogs upon his well- 

 know u trail, and in ten minutes they started him. He took 

 several turns to shake off the dogs, and then headed straight 

 for the line of hunters. One of them saw him break cover 

 and com? directly tow ard him. Congratulating himself that 

 fortune had sq smiled upon him, he awaited the fox's ap- 

 proach with glistening eye and throbbing heart. Supreme 

 moment of bliss unalloyed, that ten-fold repays for fatiguing 

 tramp and weary boars of patient watching! A king 

 could not exchange places with him now. See with what 

 exultant looks he gazes upon his victim, who has now crossed 

 the death line and is at his mercy. Yet a little nearer, and 

 the old Queen's musket, so famous for many miles around 

 Ear its deadly accuracy, leaps to his shoulder; his keen eve 

 gianees along the trusty barrel ; he catches a good si ant of 

 the bright red form, and with ecstatic triumph mirrored upon 

 his speaking countenance, he firmly presses his linger upon 

 the fatal (rigger. As the well-known peculiar boom of the 

 old gun broke upon the still morning air and reverberated 

 among the hills that returned the sonnd with a thousand 

 echoes, there came from a score of brawny throats a sueces- 

 - exultant shouts that fairly drowned the roar 

 of the old gun. Then there was excited hurrying to the 



,f0I eager eyes were expecting lo behold the lifeless 



form of the beautiful one who for many years had a< 

 fnlly eluded them and set at naught their best laid plans for 

 his capture. No lingering doubts of the fatal result disturbed 



their minds, for well they knew that the master of that old 

 gun could truly boast that no fox had ever ventured within 

 its charmed circle and heard its resonant voice ami 

 tell the tale. 



But what is the. matter with its proud possessor now V 

 Just watch his face and see its serenely triumphant expres- 

 sion slowly change to a wondering, vacant '■tare as he vainly 

 looks for the struggling form of his expected prey. With 

 breathless speed he reaches the spot. In vain with keenest 

 eye he scans the pure surface of the snow ; HO flecks of red 

 life blood; not even a single golden hair can he find upon its 

 virgin bosom to comfort bis sorrowing heart. Even the 

 track abruptly terminates. He sees at its end the long, 

 thickly lying furrows ploughed by the hurtling lead, and 

 knows that his aim was true. Now. he solves the mystery. 

 and chilly waves creep along his spine as he realizes that our 

 hero is but an mtangi'de spirit fcx. .New at hug;: a3 he 

 understand the secret of his successful career and can account 

 for his many remarkable escapes and mysterious di 

 ances; all is now clear and mingled with the vague feel- 

 ings of awe in his bosom is the glad assurance that the pride 

 and joy of his heart is still worthy his unstinted love, and 

 can still proudly boast that mortal fox ne'er escaped its deadly 

 aim. Many of his companions have now arrived, and show- 

 ing them the broken trail, he commences his wondrous story, 

 but is interrupted by a loud exclamation from one of (hem, 

 who has made a discovery, and calling them up, points to a 

 hole in the snow full fifteen feet from the lost track. Just at 

 its mouth were three or four footprints, that the dogs, who 

 now came up, loudly proclaimed were not supernatural; but, 

 as our old acquaintance, Joe Hicks, expressed it, "of the 

 earth decidedly earthy." 



A short consultation was held; and as its owner's faith in 

 the old gun was still unshaken, he insisted that the fox was 

 badly wounded, if not dead, so it was decided to dig him out. 

 Proeuriug tools from a farm house near by, they commenced 

 the task just as the sun was rising, and for two' mortal hours 

 they dug and sweat. Just as I arrived, they had reached 

 the other end of the burrow under a drift and discovered 

 that our hero had taken a new departure and dug under the 

 snow more than thirty feet to a wall, where he came out, and 

 keeping in a trough-like space between the wall and drifted 

 snow, had made his escape unseen. . 



No words of mine can portray the ludicrous scene that 

 greeted me when I joined the crest-fallen crowd. I shall 

 never forget the subdued look of melancholy resignation that 

 overspread the countenances of that discouraged group of 

 martyrs. Mocking words were in my heart; but as I gazed 

 in the sad eyes of that disconsolate band mv lips were sealed. 

 Blessed silence I Little did I dream that before the going- 

 down of the sun I should be hugging myself, and blessing 

 my guardian angel that I had not intruded mv ill-timed 

 levity upon their overwhelming grief, for now I could trust- 

 ingly turn to them f orthe sympathy I sorely needed in my 

 dire distress. 



But let us resume the chase. The dogs were at once laid 

 upon the trail, and their cheerful notes brought brighter 

 looks to the faces of the hunters, as each one returned to his 

 stand. I wended my way to the top of the mountain, where 

 I had so dearly won my "first brush, and seating myself in 

 the corner of the fence under the two little pines, dreamily- 

 listened to the distant music. Iliad remained here quietly 

 for many hours, and the sun was low in the west before the 

 fox returned to the mountain. He had not been far away, 

 for with the exception of two or three intervals of short du- 

 ration, the dogs had not been out of hearing the whole time. 

 I had greatly enjoyed the excellent race, but had given up 

 all hope that he would come back. Now my drowsy senses 

 are aroused, and the light of hope again dawns in my breast 

 as I notice a change in the direction of the chase. The dogs 

 are swinging to the right, and, knowing that this course would 

 surely lead them back to the mountain, every nerve and 

 fibre of ray body is thrilling with intense, delightful excite- 

 ment, and eye and ear are strained to their utmost tension. 

 Listen to that magnificent burst of melody, as they turn the 

 corner of the wood and swing into the open. Hear the soul- 

 stirring echoes, as they roll along the narrow gorge. So full 

 of reverberating sound is the. valley that seemingly in mid- 

 air one could cross to yonder bank upon the "resounding 

 trumpet chords. Hush ! Don't stir nor move your head ', 

 don't even wink; just slowly turn your eyes and glance 

 down the slope to where that sled path comes out of the 

 woods. There in the barway, with his head turned back to 

 listen to the dogs, stands our hero, beautiful and bright as 

 when we first beheld him. 



Although nearly a decade has flown since that memorable 

 day, and scores of deadly foes have all these years dogged his 

 footsteps, not a single shining hair is missing" Now he turns 

 his head and, with a keen, searching glance to see that all is 

 clear, slowly trots along the beaten path. Alas! his course is 

 not in our direction, for the path suddenly turns to the south 

 and we despairingly see him calmly jog along for full fifty 

 rods — hut see! he has turned around and "is retracing his 

 steps, and as he noars the turn increases his speed. Now he 

 is at the angle, and, with a wondrous leap, he leaves the 

 path, and, with far-reaching stride, is swinging round the 

 knoll and coming straight "here O kiudlv fortune, thus to 

 shower upon us thy royal favor. Upon the wings of the wind 

 he comes with graceful lope and soon will cross close by that 

 stunted bushy pine fifty yards in front— our chosen "death 

 line." Then shall his proud form lie grovelling in the death 

 struggle that, with all his cunning, he cannot escape; avenged 

 will be our grievous defeat of the morning, and wiped out 

 With his warm heart's blood the many foul wrongs and in- 

 sults that we have suffered for long, weary years. 

 the quick coming breath; smother the wild throb! 

 wildly beating heart. Here he is, and, as his nosi 

 behind the little pine, I quickly jerk my gun into position 

 and — ah! what deep Cunning the -brute "possesses. He has 

 stopped in his headlong flight and has crouched behind the 

 bush, thinking lo disconcert me, ;ind that the sudden collapse 

 of my tense nerves will unsteady me so that he may escape 

 the deadly charge, Poor, deluded fool; a thunderbolt could 

 not now distract my aim. Make your quickest rush for life 

 and sec. that muscles of steel and unfaltering eves are slill 

 here. Why does he not essay the trial? Perhaps he- has 

 recognized me; and as bis thoughts go back to that first 

 meeting and ho realizes that be can expect no mercy from 

 me, he is abjectly cowering in deadly fear. Poor fellow; you 

 shall have a chance for your hl'e." Gird up your loins and 

 fly with all your wondrous Speed ; no shot of urine shall greet 

 your ear until you have a fair start. 



But a second had passed since his disappearance when 

 with these thoughts flashing through mv uiiud I started upon 

 the run toward him. 1 reached "the littile pine' and. looked 

 in vain for his trembling form. He was nowhere to be seen, 

 but indented upon the snow were four very suggestive foot- 



Hold bard 

 tigs of that 

 disappears 



prints leading away in a direct line from tho place where I 

 had been silting; glancing along their course I beheld — more 

 than two hundred yards away— a flitting streak of red. and, 

 although blinding tears obscured my sight, I could plainly 

 sec as it disappeared over the rise the same old well-remem- 

 bered derisive flourish of that beautiful brush. Let us draw 

 the curtain here. I fain would hide from stranger eyes my 

 overwhelming chagrin. 



More than two years elapsed ere I again beheld our gallant 

 hero. It was then on the eventful loth of March that I have 

 before alluded to. A "sugar snow" had fallen the night- 

 previous and covered the ground to the depth of nearly a 

 foot; a damp south wind that scarcely stirred the sleeping 

 piiiss was hghtlj blowing ::■:■-.• leaden sky gave pronrsi that 

 the snow would hold and give us a magnificent day. About 

 a dozen of us had met at the foot of old Bald Mountain at 

 daybreak, and starting the dogs upon the old red's trail had 

 scattered, each one to his favorite runway. By common 

 consent the stand at the top of the mountain" hail been alloted 

 to me. Each one of them knew that 1 dearly loved the spot 

 for its associations, and, although it was the" best; one on the 

 mountain, with the chivalrous feelings thai I have ever found 

 to possess the heart of the true sportsman, thev with one 

 voice insisted that I, as their guest, must take "the post of 

 honor. As I approached the well-remembered corner, sad 

 thoughts mingled with the joyful feelings iu my heart, in 

 fancy I could see the loved form of Uncle Nat standing in 

 his favorite place under the little pines; and it seemed but 

 yesterday that I had sat at his feet and listened to the thrill- 

 ing tales of his early days/with which he beguiled the long hours 

 when the chase had led away and the dogs were out of hear- 

 ing. Treasured were his words of wisdom; and to the 

 knowledge thus gleaned do I owe the successful termination 

 of many a well-contested race, and the possession of many a 

 well won brush. Well do I recall one bitter cold day that 

 we were here. The dogs had been gone for a long time, yet 

 no thought of deserting our post had entered our minds. A 

 stranger chanced to be crossing below, and seeing us there in 

 the freezing wind came up and accosted us to learn what we 

 about. After gratifying his curiosity and expressing 

 his astonishment of our ideas of sport, he "turned to Uncle 

 Nat and asked him how old he was. There was a merry 

 twinlde in the old man's eye, as with well dissembled chilly 

 shudder and much blowing of his apparently freezing fingers 

 he replied with trembling voice, "If you reckon by years. I 

 shall be seventy-eight next runmn' time; but if you reckon by 

 the fun I've had here on old Bald Mountain, I'm older than 

 Methuselah." The stranger laughingly took his departure, 

 and Uncle Nat, turning to me with his face wreathed in 

 smiles, remarked, "That man ain't a fox-hunter; he thought 

 we were cold." 



Ihadthus remained here for more than anhour thoroughly 

 enjoying the pleasant memories of bygone days, before the 

 dogs, who had taken a long turn to the west, came back. I 

 knew- as soon as I heard the first sound of their voices that 



they had not started the fox, for the pathetic wailii 



the low melodious notes that fell upon my ear told well their 

 tale of hope deferred. Several times, while I had been 

 sitting here, my eyes had rested upon a small dark spot on 

 the snow, about a hundred rods to the north of me; but I 

 had scarcely given it a second thought. I might perhaps 

 have paid more attention to it, but the dogs had passed very 

 near it on the old trail, and I was watching them when it 

 first caught my sight. True, they were to the windward of 

 it, but so improbable was it that a fox should lie quiet with 

 all these howling demons so close to him, that I was thrown 

 entirely off my guard. Not until the dogs commenced the 

 ascent and were not more than a half mflfawa v, did he stir. 

 Then I saw our subtle hero rise from his couch, and after 

 two or three graceful shakes of his lithe form, steal away 

 down wind and disappear over a knoll. Picture my disgust 

 and chagrin, when I realized that the wilv rascal had been 

 craftily lying there all this time in plain view of the whole of 

 this side of the mountain and quietly taking note of our 

 movements. I could imagine his smile of derision, as he saw 

 me complacently take my seat at his favorite crossing place; 

 and in fancy I could see the look of contempt which he 

 bestowed upon yonder crouching form near the barway, 

 through which he was wont to pass. 



Glancing back I saw that the hunters on this side of the 

 mountain had left their stand and were coming toward me, 

 for well they knew that the cunning brute had located every 

 one of them; and that they must change their positions, or 

 the fleeting view that they had just obtained of him would 

 be the last that would greet their eyes fpr the rest of the day. 



The dogs were now upon the top of the mountain. While 

 waiting with quickened pulse for the glorious bur^f of melody 

 that would break upon the morning air when the hot scent 

 should fill their eager nostrils, 1 was much amused to see the 

 actions of the leader of the pack when his eve caught sight of 

 the depression in the snow where the fox had lain. Turning 

 his head over his shoulder and looking .at the broad trad, but 

 a tew yards away, that he had helped to make a iong hour 

 before, he appeared to take in the situation at a glance, 

 and I could plainly see by the way that he wheeled around 

 that he was just as mad as he could be be, and as he tore 

 along the fresh (rail his sharp jerkey yells plainly expressed his 

 anger, and the thoughts of that longwearv circle that he had 

 so needlessly taken added fresh speed to his flying st< 

 When the hunters came up I told them the (ale, confident 

 that each one of them knew by experience just how the dog 

 felt, and that he would be sure of their heartfelt svmpathv. 

 We held a short council of war and decided to advance our 

 forces about a mile to the north and patrol an bid road that 

 ran over the mountain . We reached our desti ■ goad 



order, and placing aguard at each important - Imly 



awaited events, "just below me and in full view, one of the 

 LUnters was Seated opon the bank beside the road. His keen 

 r turning up and down the road, restlessly 

 watching each approach. Suddenly he springs to his feet, 

 and, whirling around with his gun at his shoulder, twists 

 and dodges a moment, and then stands blanklv gazing inlo 

 the impenetrable laurel thicket the very picture of darl 

 hopeless despair. There was a world of meaning in the 

 sad, fall ering way in which lie slowlv lowered the Old gun, 

 and I did not need to hear the eurses'loud and deep that he 



poured forth, lo know that his soul was i stirred to - im 



depths. With my curiosity greatly excited, l hastily o 

 him and found that be had beeu sitting where a stone cul- 

 vert crossed the CqbA, and. the firstthathe knew our tricky 

 hero had popped from its mouth not six feet distant and 

 lauded upon the bauk within three feet of his head 

 fore he could cover him had twisted out of sight, Altbj 

 this man had achieved the fruition of his dearest hopes, and 

 his ardent prayers that the fox might cross al his stand' had 

 peedlly answered, "still he was not happy," and so in- 

 stilled into my mind were the generous teachings of my chivsd- 



