The Republican journal., 1895-12-05
A Fox Hunt i'll Northport.

THE FoN TURNS THE TABLE ON HIS PuRsuERs.
lNorthport Correspondence Of The journal |
A very amusing fox chase ended in rather
sad disappointment to the hunters recently
over on tile Priest hill. The particulars of
the chase, as near as We can learn, were
about as fellows: 1t appears that six men
and four dogs started out under the leader
ship OF the champion fox SLAYER of Beech
hull, Very thirsty for the blood and life of
poor Reynatd. The dogs We're. let loose at
the proper time, and the men separated a
llttie the better to watch the approach of
the willy fox. While in the neighborhood of
Priest $ hlt one OF the hounds gave pro
ionged howl, which Indicated to the men
that scent had been found, and soon every
dog was on the track and every gun brought
IN readiness to stop the fox The moment he
came i'll sight. Each man eagerly listen
ed and scanned the bushes on very hand.
Nearer and nearer came the bounding dogs
toward the hill. They are going for
the hill, shouted the champion, and for
the hill they started. When nearly up, the
champion was rewarded by seeing the fox
dart up the nill. Although a little too far
away he fired, but the fox kept right on,
closely followed by the dogs. He then start
ed on the run in the direction the dogs were
going, followed by his companions Another
full chorus from the dogs gave the impress
sion the fox had been run down, or had
entered a hole. The hunters We're soon on
the spot from whence proceeded the united
baying of the dogs and great was their ioy
To ind the fox had entered an old den. The
dogs We're scratching and digging with all
their strength notwithstanding their excite
ment. The men turned to and dug with
everything that could be utilized for the
purpose. Meanwhile the fox no doubt was
taking things easy and quietly watching for
future Developments. The digging was up
hill work their tools were poor and the
hole was We'll protected around the edge by
large rocks. Every thing was resorted to to
hasteT the work. AT last one of the men hit
upon a scheme by bending stout wire hook
on the end of pole which he thrust into
the hole in every direction Others of the
party We're digging at other places and all
but one OF the dogs We're lying about half
asleep, resting from their labor. The smaller
OF the hounds was laying near the hole
ready to se.ze his foXship the moment he
appeared at the hole. Thinking the matter
over the fox concluded to make one more
dash Tor liberty, 50 watching his oppurtuni-
~ he followed the pole as it was being
drawn out, and at the proper time gave I
desperate bound and he passed through
the hole he grabbed the dog quickly by the
back OF hi neck and was off before
the six men and the three dogs could recover
from their anazement. They dumbly stood
gazing at the receeding fox bearing away
the struggling dog. who had now got beyond
the range OF their guns. 4 more detected,
dlsconsoiate and silly group Of hunters
never Went down the Priest hin III the reco-
lection of the oldest settler, than those men
presented as they slowly and silently turned
their steps nomeward, feeling conscious Of
being completely outwitted and batfied in
their attempt To capture a little red fox.
Reynard pereeiving that he as no longer
being pursued made all haste to reach
knight pond, " here he was ia hopes TO de