The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-10-11
Itunning Down IL Fox.
By GEO. J. NARNEY.

the early worm that gets caught This
may be good reply, but it is not COM
| plete answer In the story | am about to
| relate there is q better one, for in this case
it was the early bird which got caught
While making winner visit at his uncle's
in the country, Frank happened one morn.
| ing to go out before breakfast. In passing
| through the wood house he heard squawk-
| ing of a hen outside. He ran swiftly over
| the chips to the farthest door, and there was
| IA fox Just in the act of killing hen. She
had come out eariY, intent upon securing
her breakfast; so here was a case where
the bird was caught from being out too
early
Frank had not thoush Int as he passed the
woodpile oi needing a stick and when he
saw tae fox he rushed forward on the first
impulse, simply purposiUg to save the fowl.
The head of the robber was buried to the
eyes in the muffled feathers, III the endeavor
to get firm hold preparatory to bearing
her off The whim now took Frank to
catch the fox and he actually got within
two feet OF the animal, and stretched out
his hand to seize him, before being discov-
cred The fox abandoned his prey on the
instant, but the leap he made was a short
one on account of his fright. AT the next
leap he did better; and in few seconds
his limbs were as nimble as ever. The
early bird was saved, but the late fox was
not caught.
Having missed the prize, Frank essayed
at once to ease his rage and give the fox
bad scare by wildyell. The small degree
of fright the fox felt from this only served
to increase his speed but the cry alarmed
Franks uncle, who was at the moment en-
gagged in feeding his cattle. The barn was
"a considerable distance from the house, land
the ED farmer made his appearance at the
| farther door, pitchtork in hand just as the
| fox went by.
He had been quite hunter III his day,
| aud the sight of fine fox so near stirred
| the old spirit in him. Without waiting for
| gun, hound or snow-shoes, he bounded
| from the door. stone, giving a shout like the
| below of an OK. The next leap of the
| fox was the shorter on account of it, and
| the next, and all of them. The old gentle
man strobe on through the snow as rapidly
| as his capacious body and stumpy legs
would allow, giving vent to series of yells
which caused every horse in the stable to
| snort, and set the poultry to cackling and
| screaming at a lively rate. This did not
| stop the fox entirely but the farmer gained
| upon him rapidly, until they were only a
| few rods apart.
Every inmate of the dwelling was now
| at the door or window watching the excit-
| ing race, and listening with suppressed
mrth to the yells, by which, before they
| learned the cause, they had been greatly
| terrified. The pigs rushed wildly about
| the pens with frightened grurts the cat
| had climbed the tall gate-post, where she
stood with depressed ears, arched back, and
exaggerated tail in the barn the sheep
| huddled together while stray lambs bleat-
| ed plaintively the calves jumped wildly
| about in the pens, utlering harsh, incoher
ent bleats and the colt, its curiosity over
coming fear, thrust dainty head through
| the open window, and looked with wonder
| ing eyes on the amusing spectacle.
The fox seemed fated to fall in few
moments under the ptchfork of its pur-
suer; when, as he brandished the instru-
| ment over his head, something happened
which changed the whole aspect of affairs
The fat old farmer, between running and
shouting, was nearly out of breath, and
his leg were becoming very uncertain; and
his toe catching in buried shrub, he went
Clumsly over in cloud of snow The lit
tie colt snOrted and rolled up his eyes: the
cat ran down the post and spit fire at the
pigs; while the human spectators aIterna.
ted between laughter at the ludicrous sight
and shame that the head of the family
should have he'd such al ignOmnious over
throw
When the farmer fell, his voice went
down with him; and the fox found the use
of his legs again. AS the old gentleman
rose to his feet and shook the snow from
his clothing, his son Jack came into view,
on his return from inspecting trap which
he had set for the Whole Uuipes family. of
which this fugitive was promising mem
Der. Jack now quickly perceived the
cause of the shouts, and Immediately set
| chase for the fox, which was passing on
the other side of the fence within a few
rods of him. Jack raised no cry at all. but
| relied wholly on his legs, which, unlike the
| old gentlemans, were rather remarkable
| for their length.
1t was hard close run. The fox sank
almost to his back III the light snow at
every jump but as there was at this depth
| firm crust, Jacks long legs found the up
per mass but slight obstacle Jack dis
appeared over the hill, and Frank followed
| on to witness the result IF the race Down
| the hill, through gully, over another little
| hill, went Frank along the trail.
My what leaps he makes y exclaim
| ed Frank, as he ran, making half dozen
steps to one Of Jacks.
Up the side of another hill went Frank
| laboriously; and just beyond, on a large
| pile of mill logs near the woods, sat Jack.
Halo, Jack where's the fox ?' puffed
Frank, as he came up, almost ready to drop
| from exhaustion.
Right under me- Keep still and I'll
| show him TO YOU" replied Jack in low
voice.
Where? In the logs ?''
Eyes. Look right in between these
| three
The logs were piled up lengthways upon
each other, so that where three came to-
gether there was sufficient space for a cat
| or small dog to enter. In one of these
| cavities and about midway of the length of
| the logs was the fox. Jack had come so
close upon him that he was forced to take
the first refuge offered though, if he could
only have reached the woods, some dozen
rods away, he would surely have escaped
| . | wish, Frank, YOU would run home
and get the gun; then we will quickly
finish the fellow
| "Oh, no, don't kill him. Can we not
catch him alive, and tame him p
| We'll; you go to the edge of the woods
yonder and bring long pole, and well try
/ itn
Frank was soon back with lsrg. slim
sapling and they proceeded to drive the
fox out of the trap in which he had caught
himself. Frank, at the end of the pile
| thrust the pole between the logs, into the
face of the fox which jmmediataIu boro,,