Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-07-06
FOOiing The Hound.


time to remove the dog collar the
fox appeared not hundred feet away
In a moment the dog had sighted
him, and away they went to the
south over the old course. now
devoted my time to a search for the
den, and within twenty minutes
stumbled upon it. Il was strange
that | had not found il before, as
had been within few feet OF il sew.
eral times.
During the afternoon laid plans
for the further study of the old fox.
The following morning | led the dog
to the former place OF starting. The
fox appeared, just as on the previ.
Gus day, and away they ran over the
course of the morning before. With
tieldglass in hand l followed until
reached a point on the side OF the
ravine opposite the den, from which
| commanded full view of the val.
ley below as well as of the den. Here
| concealed myself and awaited fur
ther developments.
Tho sound of the hound baying
died away in the distance and for
about an hour the stiffness was brok-
en- only by the occasional song OF
birds and the chirp of insects. Then
again | heard the hound. aud in a
little while he appeared in sight in
the valley below. He apparently
had lost the trail, and SO il proved,
for in another half hour he passed
my place of concealment on the way
TO the house. | watched until the
middle of the afternoon, but saw
nothing more of the old fox.
The next day repeated the ex-
pertinent and watched particularly
for the appearance of the dog in the
valley. | found that he lost the trail
in about the same place near the
creek. Sometime before this | had
seen the fox coming up the creek
near the den, which he passed, never
so much as turning his head, and
soon lost sight of him among the
ferns and low bushes.
The dog worked the trail for some
time longer, but finally gave it up
and went TO the house. BY this
time | thoroughly understood the
action of the dog. Now must watch
for the fox. On the third day, as the
fox and dog started as before, care
fully watched the place where the
dog had lost the trail. Two hours
later | saw the fox, on his return
trip, on the top of stone wall, at
the place where the hound lost the
trail each time. The wall at this
point was SO near the creek that the
fox could jump from the wall to the
bed Of the creek. The banks were
low for some distance, and could
see him in the shallow water, max
ing his way toward the den. AS the
banks became higher he was lost to
view, and turned the glass upon
the creek, which was fully exposed
near the den. In a little while he
passed this point and farther up the
creek came out upon the high ground
and seated himself near a stump,
carefully surveying the valley be-
low. AT first he seemed very calm,
but became more restless as the
hound appeared in the valley. BY
the time the dog had reached the
place where the fox had taken TO the
wall the fox, in his apparent delight,
lost all control of himself. He Jump
ed and frisked about and seemed to
enjoy the perplexities Of the dog
with almost human intelligence. As
the dog became more and more be-
wildered he gave vent TO his disap-
poin.ment at intervals in long drawn
howls. These seemed TO electrify
the fox, his hair bristled, and for a
moment he looked very fierce but
almost instantly change came over
him. He lay down, opened his
mouth and fairly laughed as the dog
became more and more puzzled.
These varied scenes lasted for half
an hour, until the hound uttered one
long howl and gave up the struggle.
Thereupon the fox became quiet,
resting in a position half concealed
by stump where he could watch
every movement OF the dog. After
the dog had passed the fox sat up
on his launches and watched him
until he was out OF sight, when al
most instantly the fox turned and
disappeared among the low bushes
which skirted the maple grove.
This performance was repeated
almost to the letter on the following
day. The situation was now per-
fectly clear to me. The fox was on
guard at the head OF the valley,
ready to lead the dog away, aud,
after completely fooling him, return
ed by way of the creek, and from