70 THE LIFE OF A FOX.

conceived, as I heard him ascending. I did
not move until I-saw his hand close to me; but
as he was on the point of taking hold of me, I
sprang from my lofty nest. Fortunately dropping
on some branches which projected about half
way down, I broke the fall, which would have
broken my neck, and fell to the ground, from
which I rebounded, I think, some feet. Much
shaken by the fall, but, fortunately, nothing
worse, I soon was on my legs, and away across
the forest straight to the west woods, which were
about three miles distant. When the hounds were
only the distance of half a field, they saw me
enter this immense covert; but, as several foxes
were soon moving, I escaped; and the hounds
were kept running till it was nearly dark. I:
have since heard, that the height from which I
sprang to the ground was afterwards measured,
to decide a bet, and that it was proved to be ex-
actly twenty-seven feet.. It was a strange adven-
ture, but can be attested by many who saw it;
and with this I conclude my story.