Evening star., 1932-11-13
Fox Hunting
Continued from Seventh Page

another large puddle surrounded the point
where the branches touched the earth. The
fox, as he approached, trod heavily and slowly
leaving distinct trail. In this manner he
skirted almost entirely around the pool at the
top Of the tree, then jumping lightly, landed
among the branches and walked along thsl
trunk to the roots, where he climbed into o
pocket of earth and rested. Soon the hounds
came in sight and dashed full speed to the
pool and around it. BY the time they slackened
they found they could get no scent They broke
apart, ceased their baying and spread In all
directions shifting the ground in vain. Occa-
sionally one would come on the old tran and
start of, but his joyous bay soon was found to
be false alarm. The horseman arrived and
waited
All the time Rutledge, from his vantage point,
could see the fox in his citadel watching quietly.
Suddenly an old dog put his fore paws on the
trunk Of the tree and clambered up, but he
started in the wrong direction However, 1t
was hot clue and the fox knew it. so jump
ing lightly across the other pool he dashed or
at top speed and had good start before The
hounds knew what was happening.
DERHAPS it is only natural that a fox should
play with the hounds After all they are
cousins under the skin.
The officers Of the Army maintain four or
ganized hunts affiliated with the National Hunt
and Steeplechase Association. One of these
Is at Fort Benning, Ga, where foxes and Wild
cats abound; one is at Fort Sill, Okla, where
coyotes are hunted one at Fort Bliss, Tex, and
the largest at the Cavalry School at Fort Riley,
Kans- where every officer is required to hunt
as part Of his training in horsemanship. How
ever, Fort Riley with all its advantages In fine
steeds, excellent hounds and superb riders has
only the slow prairie wolves of Western Kansas
to chase. Most of the time drag" hunts are
staged, the hounds following trail laid down
by rider dragging bag of anise seed How
ever, couple Of years ago the officers decided
to hold great national hunting meet Fox
hunters from all parts of the country were in
vited. Hounds were brought in weeks in ad-
vance TO supplement the splendid pack MAIN
tanned at the post and as a final measure to
insure great sport the best red foxes were OBJ
tanned from Maryland and Virginia. Every-
hing pointed to a great meeting with hundreds
Of miles Of open prairie available it seemed as IL
there would be endless opportunity for fast rid
ing and perfect conditions for working out the
many excellent hounds that were to be given
a real trial.
About ten days before the date set the foxes
arrived by express and were quartered In pens
near the kennels
Then came the big day. The hounds were
taken out by the whips, the hunters were
AiAOulbcu LilcII scarlet cOdLS ana Dlack DOOtS
everything was ready So the foxes were turned
loose a short distance away They ran off ner-
vously and stopped. The dogs perked up and
started after them then stopped. The hunts
men and whips were puzzled. The master sent
whip forward to shoe the foxes onward. They
ran another short distance and stopped again.
Then the dogs were urged to their job. The
foxes took the hint and ran close together at
a slow lope across the plains the dogs following
curiously and the hunters impatiently waiting
for rum But it was all in vain. After run
ming in a wide circle for couple of miles the
foxes showed up again at the kennels and
the dogs came in behind them still disinter-
eSted.
Then the cause of the trouble occurred to
the master The foxes had been wen fed
and liked the pens and In the 10 days the
dogs had become so well acquainted with the
:nxes and their scent that the thought of hunt-s
Ing their pals never occurred to them. So the
imported fox hunters had to content themselves
he fuVn ~ fn11oc