REDPAD THE FOX n 
Vix preferred to spring Thug-like upon her victim, 
but in this case the prey was too far away, and she 
resolved to rush it. Cramping her limbs together 
she dashed through the fence and leaped at the 
bunny she bad marked. She might as well have 
pursued a shadow. A dozen pairs of feet stamped 
a warning, and a dozen scuts scuttled into the bushes. 
There was a twang as some reckless rabbit stubbed 
his nose against the wire, and then the patter of 
feet darting in every direction. 
Had Vix been hunting alone that evening she 
would have gone supperless, but as it happened, 
one rabbit chose that runway where Redpad 
crouched. It saw its danger too late and swerved 
but the cub darted forward and rolled it over, 
almost turning a somersault in the vehemence of 
his rush. Vix came leaping through the bushes 
and tugged the kill away from him. He yielded 
it growling, but ultimately was permitted to 
demolish by far the largest share. 
By such expeditions Vix taught her cub to know 
every lane, bank, and ' shore ' l in the country 
round Knockdane, and this knowledge was very 
useful to him when later on he was 
obliged to hunt and be hunted by him- 
self. Besides the rabbits, there were 
1 Shore = A covered drain. 
