20 THE LIFE OF A FOX.

rustling of the hounds running straight towards
me, being led on by the scent that was left in
the track of my feet, which parts, especially
when heated by running, seem to leave more
scent than any other part of the body. Thus
the same organ becomes at once the means of
‘Inviting pursuit, and of escaping it. Off I went
—the awful tongue of an old hound ringing in
my ear, and having about it surely some charm;
for no sooner had he opened than a score or
two others of the pack came rushing from all
sides towards him, and then such a horrible din
as there was behind me. I ran—I flew, I knew
not whither—I crossed a road in. the wood—and
then such frantic screaming and shouting,—
“Tally O—tally O,” mixed with the blast of
Foster’s horn, that I was almost mad with fright,
and must have fallen a victim to my savage
pursuers, had not my brothers and sisters been
disturbed by the clamour, and consequently been
the cause of the pack being divided into several
parts, thus enabling me to steal away towards

the opposite side of the wood, where I remained.