Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1881-01-08
4 RACE FOR LIFE.

WIS once, Sitlu an oiu Huiei,
" chasing small fox with half dozen
hounds. They had been pushing HIM
pretty closely for some three hours, and
he was finally forced to try to gain his
den in a ledge of rocks. Now, it hap
pens to he fact that fox always likes to
put rs much distance as possible between
himself and his pursuers when be takes
to his domicile, and AS a consequence he
makes the highest possible speed when
finishing the run. In this particular in
stance Reynard started on straight
run for his home, when nearly a mile
distant, and was soon 200 or 300 yards !
ahead of the hounds and widening the |
gap. When less than quarter OF Il |
mile from home he was intercepted by |
three fresh dogs, which, hearing the
chase. had started TO ioin it from point |
on line with the iox 5 xenneling place.
OF course they drove him back on line ,
nearly parallel with the course on which
he had been running, and it looked rs
though he would have to make circuit
of two or three miles to reach home.
The fresh hounds having literally
taken up the chase and carried it back
past my own at ar angle, my dogs left
the trail, and, by short cut, joined the
intruders, and the whole pack was soon
in full cry within 100 yards Of the fox,
which was now running directly away
from home. At this point the fox left
for the woods and took to an upper field
that sloped abruptly down some 300
yards to a narrow valley. He had barely
disappeared over the brow of the hill
when nine dogs broke from the woods
over the fence, all of them except the
leader with heads erect, looking eagerly
for their prey.
Twas standing on the opposite hill
and had an unobstructed view, and care
fully noted all the movements Of the fox
and his pursuers. As soon as he had
cleared the fence and before the hounds
were in position to see him he put on
n magnificent burst of speed for one
hundred yards down the hill until he
reached large stump three feet in
height and perfectly flat on top. Leap-
ing upon it he lay down with his nose
pointing in the direction of his noisy
pursuers and fattened himself out so
completely that he was practically in
visible to me, and doubt whether
man would have noticed him passing
within two rods Of the stump unless he
vas looking for something on it.
The hounds came down the hill with
q rush, some taking one side Of the
stump and some the other. There was
no abatement in their speed until they
reached nearly the opposite side of the
field, when the leader discovered that
the trail was "lost," and giving the
well-known signal the pack were thrown
into confusion and the search to pick it
| mp began. As soon as the hounds had
F, gone q safe distance beyond him, Rey-
nard leaped from his perch and made a
bee line for home. 1t was fifteen min
utes before the hounds made out the
trail, and he had ample time to reach
the ledge before they were again in pur-
suit of him.
ENGLISH farmers who have been in
weighed into emigrating to Manitoba are
sending up complaints apt to astorish
Beaconsfeld, who gave that country a
ludicrously exaggerated putting upon a
recent semi-oficial occasion. 1t was
pictured perfect paradise. 1t proves
to be q vast plain Of marsh, mosquito
infested in summer, ice-bound in winter,
when, as there is no natural barrier be-
tween it and the Arctic regions, the
mercury often sinks to 40 below. There
is no natural drainage, and the snow.
waters stand until late in the season,
preventing timely agricultural prepara-
tions. The crops are slender. The
roads are impossible. The market is
distant. The whole region is unattrao
tive, and, until the better lands of the
States are crowded full, will never he IL
demand. At least, such is the repre-.
sentation of English emi2ants.
The noblest quality wherewith mature
has endowed woman, for the good of tn.
world, is maternal love.