12 THE LIFE OF A FOX.

between his legs. I then made towards the
hedge, and the dog springing after me, I suddenly
turned round again, when he, trying to do the
same, tumbled heels over head, and nearly broke
his precious neck. My comfort was to think
that he was certainly born to be hanged, for he
followed me again as if nothing was the matter,
and soon overtaking me, wearied as I was with
the sport (I think they call it), he seized me on
the back of the neck, and jogged away, with me
in his mouth, to his master, who clapped me
into his enormous pocket, and carried me home.
I was there kept in a dark and. dirty place, where
all sorts of animals had been kept before. ; There
I remained, who by nature am the cleanliest of
animals, with my hairs all clotted with mire
and filthy moisture, and should certainly have
perished of a certain loathsome sickness, had
not another. gamekeeper luckily seen me,. and
told my owner the certain consequence of keep-
ing me so. I was then taken out and put into
a hamper out of doors, ready to be carried by

the night coach to London for sale. After trying