The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1883-07-11
SOME BIG FOX STORIES.

BIG FOX STORIES.
TOUGH oNEs THEY USED TO TELL
IN THE OLD DOMINION.
The Fox Which Took to the Creek---Fow
Reynnrd Hung Himself Up In a Planters
House.
Fox hunters, as well as fishermen,
spin yarns which many a sailor may
we'll envy. Virginia sportsmen IN
ante-bellum times were famous Tor
their marvellous stories about cunning
foxes.
A dozen or 80 planters, old and
young, were gathered in the "ofiice"
on the lawn in f-oht Of Uncle Jacks
modern mansion. Ti:ey had just re-
turned from an unsuccessful chase.
Reward had suddenly and mysterious
ly disappeared, when his capture
seemed certain. After vain endeavors
to recover the lost trail hunters and
dogs returned Disguised.
Speculation was rife as to how that
fox could have escaped.
"Ah" interjected one of the party,
a noted sportsman, who kept a line
pack of hounds, "the instinct of these
creatures borders close on reason.
Some time since we started an old
fox, and after a run of about a mile
we lost him at a point on Stony creek.
How he contrived to give us the slip
we could not imagine. Some two
weeks after we started that same fox
from the same cover, and we lost him
again at the same place. Determined
to find out what became OF the cunning
scamp we placed a negro boy at the
point the dogs were at fault. We
beat up the same fox. lie made for
the same point. Hard upon the heels
of the dogs we came to the creek.
The dogs followed the scent to the
edge of the water, sprang in, and swan
over.
"Did you see the fox, Benz we
asked the boy.
"Yes, sab! Dab he is!
"tWhereY
".Dah ? and he pointed to a mass of
overhanging vines, partially sub
merged in the deep water in the mid
die of the creek.
"Sure enough, on close inspection,
we could see the top of the foX's o S
among the vines. He had seized n
of the tendrils, which had served to
support him" 49,,
"Oh !" said Uncle Jack, as he laid
his pipe on the round table, and slowly
emitted a vast volume of smoke from
his capacious mouth; "there's nothing
incredible in that story. That was a
stupid old fox alongside of mine. You
see, boys, we had the same trouble as
you did with an old fox that roosts
about a mile and a half over yonder, on
the edge Of the swamp. We lost him
on three successive runs, and where do
you think he turned up missing? Why
right here at this house. Each time
the dogs trailed him to the yard, and
the scent was lost, apparently, near
the house. 1t was a wonderful mys-
terry, and we could not understand it
and there's my dogs. You know them,
and old Rip in particular. He is not
easily fooled.
"Well, 1 volunteered to stay at
home, and the boys went one day with
the hounds to try and rustic that sly
fox up. They had been gone about an
hour, when I heard old Rips voice, way
off in the valley. The cry came nearer,
and I knew they were on a warm
trail. I stood at that window and
watched. 1t was not long before 1
caught a glimpse of the fox stleaking
it across the pasture and making
straight for the house. lie clambered
over the rail fence, dropped down in
the lane and came straight to the gate.
Now, you know there is a paling fence
around the lawn-and l was anxious
to see, if he got over, how he would
manage it. Well, sirs, that fox went
straight to the gate. 1t is of lattice
work, and swings to with a weight on
the inside. What do you think my fox
did? lie raised up, put his forepaws
through the lattice work, slowly backed
out, pulling the gate open. When he
had it pretty wide open, he suddenly let
90, whisked around the gate and sour
ried in, the gate closing with a bang
just after he was safely inside. l was
Enthusiastically. Inside the lawn,
my fox looked cautiously around. The
coast was clear. He came up to the
house and scampered around to
the rear. ! went to the back window
and peeped out. The'fox was on the
veranda. He sprang upon the railing
which surrounds the veranda, and
walked cautiously along it to the side
of the house. l could no longer see
him from the window, so l went tothe
door and cautiously looked ont. The
fox had disappeared. Now, boys, what
do YOU think that fox of mine had
done with himself? Come out here
and l will show YOU"
We all walked out.
"You see all these skins hanging
here-wild cats, coons, 'possums, foxes
and others; and you see that stuffed
fox hanging on that nail. Well, you
see this nail in the house, near the
railing, and next to that stuffed fox.
Well, sirs, my fox had leaped from the
railing, caught the nail in his mouth,
and there he hung alongside OF his de-
ceased brother"
"And the dogs" inquired several
eagerly.
around the house; went upon the
veranda, and raised old cain generally.
The skins were old acquaintance, and
they never looked for a live fox hang
ing up five or six feet from the floor"
And did you capture the fox, Uncle
Jack?"
capture that fox, sir? No, sir
DO you think l have no regard, sir,
for the laws Of hospitality? Take in
advantage of even an animal that
sought protection under my roof? No,
sir! No! We kenneled the dogs,
went into the house by the front door,
and watched to see what Il fox
would do. In about ten minutes we
heard him drop. All was quiet. He
crept to the stairs leading up to the
veranda, looked slowly and cautiously
around, turned his head and glanced
up at the row of skins, and his stuffed
brother, and laughed. Yes, sirs, that
fo1 laughed and then he boltcd ~
I'eaas Sitt5nyS.
SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL.