The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-06-16
SLY REYNARD.
stories of the Cunning OF Foxes when
Pursued by Men and Hounds.

Stories of the Cunning of Foxes When
Pursued by Men and Hounds.
In hunting annals there are to be
found many amusing tales of the fox,
whose short life usually ends in the
glory of the chase. Southey tells of
a tame fox brought mp from babyhood
to run i'm kitchen wheel as turnspit.
One day he ran away, but unfortun-
ately il was in hunting season and he
was tracked by the dogs. He led the
pack and the horsemen chase of
thirty miles, taking them twice
through the same stream after making
long detour and finally made his way
back with the hounds after him in full
cry, dashed into the kitchen and into
his wheel, where he resumed opera
tions unconcernedly, the cook keeping
off the dogs till the huntsmen came up
and learned the kind of game they had
been chasing.
Hunted foxes often hide in curious
places. One day an English master
of the hunt returned home after long
and exciting chase, the game having
suddenly disappeared near his home.
Wet and cross he went to his room to
dress and discovered n mysterious
lumpiness under the bed cover that he
could not account for Turning down
the spread he found the fox, which
had hidden there. 1t was finally
elected from the house.
Foxes have habit of dashing into
some humble cottager's home and
creating havoc amid the furniture and
dishes before the dogs enter and finish
them on the spot. Once fox ran down
the chimney, flying into the lap of the
Mortified old woman, who sat before
the fire. There are instances of foxes
hiding in bakers ovens.
Once farmer had pig which he
was fattening for market. The animal
had reached the point of perfection
where his eyes would scarcely open
and he could not walk for his weight,
and he was startled one day by the
patter of feet on his back and there
was fox at his side. In an instant
the patter was intensified forty-fold
and the dogs tore in after the fox.
The shock was too much for the
|
hunt had to recompense the farmer.
Foxes often double cleverly on their
trails. One fox led the hounds over q
clipped hedge and waited on the other
side till the dogs had passed him, then
jumped up on the hedge and leisurely
trotted away on top Of it. escaping
detection save by foot-passenger,
who, of course, could not stop him.
Another clever fox made straight for a
river with rocky bank and on the
edge made his way down under the
rock to n very narrow foothold where
he lay and enjoyed fine view of his
pursuers, who pav,a fine exhibition
of diving. From the opposite side
the pursuers saw Reynard trot com
fortably off home, safe. Another fox
made for the edge of quarry where
there was an overhanging tree in which
he disappeared, but the dogs, unable
to control their speed, dashed over
the ledge and were killed.
Foxes have holes and the birds of
the air have nests" is well known but
it is not so well known that fox once
sought refuge in birds nest. In
1887, in Cheviot, when the Border
pack was running down fox it ran
into a rocky glen with no outlet and
an easy kill was expected. The
hounds were found, however, sitting
in establishment watching rocky cliff
opposite and on the face Of this cliff
was ravens nest, in which the fox
lay tangled, having reached its pre-
carious resting place by a narrow
ledge scarcely big enough for n cat.
In an old sporting magazine, dating
from the '40's, is recorded n wonder
full run of a stanch pack with grand
fox and followed by the keenest sports
men. Away they went, here and
there, straight, zigzag. double and
circumbendibus- are tried every
imaginable hiding-place is made for,
only to be Immediately abandoned ;
every tactic that Reynard's sagacity
and cunning can suggest is brought
into execution, but without avail, till
after record of three hours and
twenty minutes, utterly dead beat, the
gallant Reynard sinks down on an
open place and when the huntsmen
reach the spot, YEARLY, leading their
tired-out horses, they find the hounds
lying around their prey in such an ex-
hausted condition rs to be utterly
unable to worry him.