i6 
REDPAD THE FOX 
himself, and also able to snatch the kill from her 
had he so chosen. Hence she snarled at him ; 
and it was another proof that Redpad had passed 
the days of cubhood that he did not fly at her throat, 
as he assuredly would have done had any other 
fox used him so, but only hovered near to devour 
such morsels as she rejected. For it is one of the 
laws of the Fox Folk that a he-fox shall never attack 
a vixen to snatch her kill from her. It is a wise 
and good law, as are all those which are observed 
in the woods. 
When Vix had eaten her fill she rose and quenched 
her great thirst in a stream. But only a little 
remained for Redpad, and his hunger was scarcely 
appeased when they trotted back to Knockdane on 
the hill in the grey dawn. 
