Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1905-02-23
sHEPHERDSTOWN W. VA, THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 49, 1905

rabbit run into long, hollow log
which lay half yelled in cluster oi
dead weeds. Instantly he darted for
ward, ran at top speed, and crouched
before the lower end OF the log, where
he knew the rabbit must come out
Within dozen seconds the mink
arrived, and followed the fugitive
straight into his Intellectual retreat.
Such narrow quarters were just what
the mink loved. The next instant
the rabbit shot forth-to be caught
in mid-air by the waiting fox, and
die before it had time to realize in
what shape doom had come upon 1t.
All unconscious that he was tres
passing upon anothsrs hunt, the fox
with a skillful jerk of bic head flung
the limp and sprawling victim acrOss
his shoulder, holding it by one leg,
and started away down the slope
toward his lair on the other side Of
the pond.
As the mink's long body darted
out from the hollow log he stopped
short, crouched fat upon the snow
with twitching tail, and stared at the
triumphant intruder with eyes that
suddenly blazsd red. The tresPass
was no less an insult than an injury;
and many of the wild kindred show
themselves possessed of a nice sensi-
tiveness on the point of thsir personal
dignity. For an animal of the mink s
size the fox was an overwhelmingly
powerful antagonist, to be avoided
with care under all ordinary circum-
stances. But to the disappointed hum
ter, his blood hot from the long, eI.
citing chase, the present circumstan-
ces seemed by no means ordinary.
Noiseless as a shadow, aud swift and
stealthy as a snake, he sped after the
leisurely fox, and with one snap bit
through the great tendon of his right
hindleg, permanently laming him
As the Pang went through him,
and the manned leg gave way beneath
his weight, the fox dropped his burden
and turned savAgely upon his uneI-
pected assailant. The mink, however
had sprung away, and lay crouched
in readiness on the snow, eyelug bis
enemy Indignantly. With fierce
snap Of his long, Furnishing jaws the
fox rushed upon him. But-the mink
was not there. With a movement so
quick as fairly to elude the sight, he
was now crouching several yards away
watchful, vindictive, menacing. The
fox made two more short rushes, in
vain; then he, too, crouched, conSid-
ering the situation, and glaring at
his slender, black antagonist. The
mink's small eyes were lit with
smoldering. ruddY glow, sinister and
implacable; while rage and pain had
cast over the eyes Of the fox a peculiar
greenish opalescence.
For perhaps half a minute the two
lay motionless, though quivering with
the intensity Of restraint and expecta-
ton. Then, with lightning sudden
ness, the fox repeated his dangerous
rush. But again the mink was not
there. AS composed as if he had
never moved hair, be was lying
about three yards to one side, Caring
with that same immutable hatred.
At this the fox seemed to realize
that it was of no use trying to catch
so elusive foe. The realization came
to him slowly-and slowly, sullenly,
he arose and turned away. ignoring
the prize which be could not carry
of. With an awkward limp he start
ed across the ice, seeming to scorn
his small but troublesome antagonist.
Having thus recovered the spolls,
and succeeded in scoring his point
over so mighty an adversary, the
mink might have been expected to
let the matter rest and quietly reap
the profit of his triumph But all
the vindictiveness of his fsrocious and
implacable tribe was now aroused.
Vengeance, not victory, was his crsv-
ing. When the fox had gone about
a dozen feet, all at once the place
where the mink had been crouching
was empty. Almost in the same in
slant, az it seemed, the fox was again,
and mercilessly, bitten through the
leg.
This time, although the fox had
seemed to be ignoring the foe, he
turned like fash to meet the assault.
Again, however, be was just too late.
His mad rush, the swapping Of his
long jaws avGled him nothing. The
mink crouched, sying him, ever just
beyond his reach. A CLEAN Of some