CHAPTER IV 
HOW THE DEBT WAS PAID 
ALL the following winter Redpad hunted in Knock- 
dane. Several times the hounds came and he had 
to run for his brush, but it takes a great deal to 
catch a hardy Irish fox who is sound in wind and 
limb. When summer came he picked up plenty 
of young rabbits and grew fat. Paddy Magragh 
learned to recognise him, and designated him ' the 
big red felly.' Although he had been deprived of 
his mother so early, yet he learned by experience 
and instinct, those best of teachers, how to overcome 
or circumvent the wiliest of the wood creatures 
for his own ends. He established himself in the 
upper gallery of a badger's 'set.' The badger had 
cleaned it out for his own winter use, but Redpad 
discovered it one day, and adopted it. The badger 
was seriously annoyed and endeavoured to oust the 
intruder by every means in his power, but Redpad 
went on the principle of bowing to the storm. 
When the badger offered to fight him he discreetly 
sought quarters elsewhere ; but no sooner had the 
rightful owner triumphantly freed the burrow 
from the hated taint of fox, than he returned. 
At last the badger grew weary of the contest. He 
took up his residence at the bottom of the earth, 
