The banner-enterprise., 1883-06-28
SOME BIG FOX STORIES.
TOUGH ONES THEY USED TO TELL.
IN THE OLD DOMINION.

Inc FOX Nhlcn TOOK 10 the CreeH--ftON
Reynard Hung Himself Up in 4 Planter
House.
Fox hunters, as well as fishermen
spin yarns which many a sailor ma,
well envy. Virginia sportsmen il
ante-bellum times were famous TO
their marvellous stories about cunning
foxes.
A dozen or so planters, old AMI
young, were gathered in the "oflice
on the lawn in front of Uncle jack
modern mansion. They had just re
turned from an unsuccessful chase
Reynard had suddenly and mysterious
ly disappeared, when his capture
seemed certain. After vain endeavor'
to recover the lost trail hunters anC
dogs returned disguised.
Speculation was rife as to how thai
fox could have escaped.
"Ah" interjected one of the party,
a noted sportsman, who kept a fine
pack of hounds, "the instinct of these
creatures borders close on reason
Some time since we started an OLD
fox, and after a ruiz 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 tive
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. He 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, Ben? we
asked the boy.
"'Yes, sab. Dab he is
"Where?'
"Dah = and he pointed to 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 nose
among the vines. lie had seized one
of the tendrils, which had served to
support him.
"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 ahalf 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 4 wonderful mys-
terry, and we could not understand it +;
and there's my dogs. You know them,
and old Rip in particular. lie is not
easily fooled.
"Well, | volunteered to stay at
home, and the boys went n day with
the hounds to try and rustic that sly
fox up. They had been gone about an
hour, when l heard old Rips voice, way
off in the valley. The cry came nearer,
and l knew they were on a warm
trail. | stood at that window and
watched. 1t was not long before l
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? He 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
60, whisked around the gate and sour
ried in, the gate closing with a bang
just after he was safely inside. | was
astonished slightly. Inside the lawn,
my fox looked cautiously around, The
coast was clear. He anne up to the
house and scampered around to
the e | went to the back window
and peeped out. The fox was on the
veranda. He sprang upon the railing
surrounds the veranda, and
walked cautiously along it to the side
Of the house. | could no longer see
him from the window, so went tothe
door and cautiously looked out. The
fox had disappeared. Now, boys, what
10 you think that fox of mine had
lone with himself? Come out here
and will show you"
We all walked out.
"You see all these skins hanging
lere-w wild cats, coons, 'poSsums, foxes
md others; and you see that stuffed
hanging on that nail. Well, you
zee this nail in the house, near the
and next to that stuffed fox.
Well, sirs, my fox had leaped from the
caught the nail in his mouth,
nd there he hung alongside of his de-
eased brother y
And the dogsl' inquired several
"0h they came yelping in, rushed
round the house; went upon the
,eranda, and raised old cain generally.
skins were old acquaintanceS, and
hey never looked for a live fox hang
lg up five or six feet from the floor"
And did you capture the fox, Uncle
ack :"
Capture that fox, sir? No, sir
10 you think | have no regard, sir,
the laws of hospitality? Take an
dvantage of even an animal that
ought protection under my roof? No,
Ir! MOI We kenneled the dogs,
'ent into the house by the front door,
nd watched to see what our fox