Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17

morning we were on the ground where the
fox would most likely be started. :,
I've been here so many time l can tell
about where he'll CO., if we start him, ex-
claimed Tom, as we left our wagon by the
roadside and clambered over into rough
pasture, $50 if you viii take your station on
the hill yonder, Orville, Rob may hide down
there where the wall turns, and I'll guard
the wood road after i get the dogs into the
brush"
The "Rob'. spoken of was Lanes only son
"a splendid boy of about fifteen, Of whom he
justly felt somewhat proud.
We had hardly time to reach our hiding
places before the voice Of old Ranger was was
struck trail
The other dogs soon joined their leader, and
away went all three, baying loudly and
awakening the echoes for miles around.
they were lost in the distance. The trail
led them straight away from the region we
thought to cover, but we knew they would
come back in time, for an old fox can't be
kept from his home great while by any
number of dogs.
1t was at least an hour before we heard
anything further, but when at last we caught
sound OF the baying again, it grew rapidly
louder and louder, and told that the game
would soon reach the point whence it had
started.
My station on the hill, between two bould-
ers which served as a blind, enabled me TO
see the valleys on either side, and | could look
directly down upon Rob's hiding place, distant
about half mile.
As / stood looking in the direction whence
the dogs were coming, | caught sight of The
fox as he jumped over a wall and darted
across a tract of plowed land. Sure enough
he had black coat-the blackest ! ever saw.
He was not coming toward either of us,
but was, evidently going around the hill. The
hounds followed very closely, and were giving
tongue in that short, snappy, way which al
ways indicates that the trail is still warm,
when of sudden the barking ceased, and
noses to the ground, but occasionally lifting
them to sniff the air, as they do when they
lose the scent.
This meant that Reynard thought they were
little too close, and had begun playing tricks
to delay them, while he had chance to
rest.
He had probably run along the top of a
wall, back and forth, a few times, and then
taken leap into the bushes, leaving his pur-
suers to find the trail again as best they
might.
But Ranger understood this trick, and before
long the whole pack were again pressing him
very hard.
ing place, and l began to congratulate my
self on my good luck in having been put
there when the chase took sudden turn away
from me, and as | glanced. in Rob's direc-
tion, l saw the. fox creeping along under
cover OF the wall, on. the side opposite to
where the boy lay concealed, but going straight
| toward him.
/ thought of firing, to warn Rob of the ap-
proach, but quickly decided that would not
do; and then, was it not likely that the boy
ing on? At any rate, could do nothing but
watch and wait.
Nearer and nearer drew the fox, his black
| coat shining in the morning sun, till he was
within fifty yards. Of the corner where the
| roll t,,rpad aharDlV to the left and ctiII No
| movement on Rob's part.
| / feared he must have fallen asleep, for now
the distance was less than twenty yards, and
Reynsrd was fun abreast Of him and he did
not FIRE but Just 'md wnea ~. thought the fox was