Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-01-18
REWARDS SUPPER.

This story Of the skill OF the fox in hunt.
ing Wild ducks, and his ceverness in pre-.
siding at subsequent game dinners,' is told
bya sportsman OF Virginia, according to the
New York Sum-
II was one day beating the meadows
for quails down on my farm in Loudon
county, said he, "when | saw small flock
of mallards fly up from the east and settle
down in a small lake lying about a mile
from my house. A mallard in the pond
is worth many absent quails, said to my.
self. and went after the ducks.
"My approach to the lake was covered
by a considerable bluff overhanging the
shore. When l had crawled stealthily
through the bushes and peeped over the
edge | perceived that | was not the only
hunter IN the brush, and that other eyes
than mine were greedily fixed upon the
ducks which were sporting in the clear
water not go yards from where / lay.
The eyes in question belonged to a hungry
red fox that sat on the shore Immediately
under the bluff, gazing longingly at the
succulent game dinner, which, to all ap.
pearances, was not attainable for him.
"Now. when found that Br'er Fox was
chasing the same quarry as |. l became
more interested in the woodcraft of that
noted huntsman and barnyard brigand
than ] was in bagging a brace Of the mai.
lards for my own dinner Therefore, |
lay quietly concealed in the bushes to watch
the outcome of the affair.
"The fox sat quite still for awhile, evil
IDENTIFY studying the strategic possibilities
OF the situation, which to me seemed hope
less enough for him. As he sat there ma
turing plan of operations, the ducks began
to drift slowly toward the nearer end of
the lake, evidently with the intention of
taking nap, hidden in the long grasses.
The fox seemed to divine their purpose
and instantly arose on all fours, quivering
with excitement. He stood for moment
in the attitude of a pointer that has Just
started bird, and then, crouching down,
he sneaked along the shore to where the
rushes were thickest. Then he waded into
the water and disappeared in the reeds.
Nothing more was to be seen of him.
'"rhc ducks gradually drifted toward the
rushes, finally entered among them and
were lost to view. For some time there
was not sign of life to be seen nor sound
to be heard over the whole lake. Suddenly,
heard lound squalling of captured
duck; there was great commotion among
the rushes, a splashIng OF water and the
sharp slapping sound of many wings as the
alarmed ducks arose from the water and
scurried off. Soon after the fox appeared
swimming through the reeds, towing good,
fat mallard along by the neck
"The fox brought the duck back to the
shadow OF the bluff, and, after several
vigorous shakes to rid himself of the water,
sat goating over his prize, alternately
shifting at it and turning it over with his
paws l had expected to see him proceed
to devour the fowl without ceremony; but
instead of doing so he scratched hole in the
ground, tumbled the duck into it, covered
it up and scampered off as swiftly as though
a pack of hounds in full cry were at his
heels.
"'Here's an epicurean for you,' / said to
myself; 'Reynard evidently likes his game
high
Nevertheless, suspected that this was
not to be the end of the affair, and, curious
to see how my friend would act upon his
return to find his dinner gone, i crawled
down the embankment, resurrected the
duck, filled up the hole and resumed my
place of observation to await developments.
IAN hour or more passed, and then l
caught glimpse of my friend approaching