THE FOX. 



85 



much as the having to move. The stolen hunt was 

 their "spree," their "bender," and of course they must 

 take time to get over it. 



Some old hunters think the fox enjoys the chase as 

 much as the hound, especially when the latter runs 

 slow, as the best hounds do. The fox will wait for the 

 hound, will sit down and listen, or play about, crossing 

 and recrossing and doubling upon his track, as if en- 

 joying a mischievous consciousness of the perplexity 

 he would presently cause his pursuer. It is evident, 

 however, that the fox does not always have his share 

 of the fun : before a swift dog, or in a deep snow, or 

 on a wet day when his tail gets heavy, he must put his 

 best foot forward. As a last resort he "holes up." 

 Sometimes he resorts to numerous devices to mislead 

 and escape the dog altogether. He will walk in the 

 bed of a small creek, or on a rail-fence. I heard of 

 an instance 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. May be, also, 



