The Washington bee., 1902-01-25
lREYNARD'S SUPPER.

1nlB story VI Iue skill OF the IoV IN lunLs
ing wild ducks, and his eleverness in pre-
siding at subsequent game dinners, is told
by a sportsman OF Virginia, according TO the
New York Sun:
Il was one day beating the meadows
for quails down on my farm in Loudon
county," said he, when l saw a 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 qua1s,' 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 l 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 60 yards from where l lay.
The eyes in question belonged to hungry
red fox that sat on the shore Immediately
under the bluff, gazing longingy at the
succulent game dinner, which, to all ap-
pearances, was not attainable for him.
''Now. when l found that Br'er Fox was
chasing the same quarry as /, l became
more interested in the woOdcraft OF that
noted huntsman and barnyard brlgand
than was in bagging brace of the NAL
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, eyi-
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 a nap, hidden in the long grasses.
The fox seemed to divine their purpose
/ and instantly arose on all fOuTs, quivering
with excitement. He stood for a moment
in the attitude of 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 - the reeds.
! Nothing more was to be seen of him.
''The ducks gradually drifted toward the
Tushes, finally entered among them and
were lost to view. For some time there
was not a sign of life to be seen nor sound
| to be heard over the whole lake. Suddenly,
l heard a 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 10 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 scampeTed off as swiftly as though
A pack of hounds in full cry were at his
heels.
" Here's an epicurean for you,' l 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, | erawled
down the embankment, resurreeted the
} duck, filled up the hole and resumed my
place of observation to await developments
AN hour or more passed, and then l
q
through the bushes along the margin Of the
lake. conducting to the festal board another
fox more venerable looking than himself.
The visiting fox did not seem to eVince
much confidence either in his host or in
the object of his quest, for he eame along
haltingly and apparently unwillingly. But
the host was all eapers OF pleasurable an
ticipatlon.
In this manner the two foxes arrived at
the cache, and, while the guest sat glumly
by with a bored and skeptical air, the host
proceeded at once to unearth the promised
banquet. He scratched away merrily for
awhile until he had exeavAted hole large
enough to have buried himself in without
uncovering 50 much as feather Of the
vaunted duck.
''The situation was becoming embarrass-
ing. The manner Of the guest was growing
offensive; he was now confident that he
was being imposed upon. The host, l be
lieve, was beginning to think that he had
caught mole instead of duck He paused
occasionally to sniff in the hole, but I'M
mediately resumed excavations until he was
obliged to desist from sheer fatigue.
"The two disappointed epicures sat upon
opposite sides of the pit gazing ruetully at
each other; the one with the air of respect
able member of community who had been
made the subject of cruel hoax; the other
with the mien of benefcent fox who was
the innocent victim of most unaccountable
and untoward circumstances. Then my
friend, with hope born Of despair, set to
work in the hole again, scratching desper-
ately with all fours; but with the same
result as before. As he sat himself deJect-
sdly down again his guest gave him re-
proachful look, turned tail upon him and
walked contemptuously away.
Poor Reynard sat quite Respondent after
his guests departure. Stung with remorss
, = a. .-l..---- EtAl@ inLA had wrought
| upon so hosprable a creature, L threw
the duck over the embankment in hopes
that nv friend would seize it and make
after his offended guest. But the descent
Of the dead fowl alarmed him and he coursed
off like a sorrel comet, with his bushy tail
streaming after him.
THAT evening l walled over to the lake
sbore again. The duck was gone. 1t is tC
tho fov returned for II and