96 THE LIFE OF A FOX,

much used to see the keeper and his dogs pass,
that, not hearing the huntsman’s voice or horn,
she was taken by surprise when the hounds
got round her; if she had moved before, she
might have been seen, and the hounds stopped in
time to save her. No doubt she had been there
some weeks before, and, in consequence of having
a good friend at the great house, not being ever
disturbed, she believed that she was safe.”

I would not venture to listen any longer, for I
heard the same hounds running another fox in
the gorse close by me. It appeared that there
was also another besides, making altogether three
ofus. Finding this to be the case, and thinking
to he very cunning, I took an early opportunity
of quitting the covert; and had scarcely got
across two fields, before I saw a multitude of
men on horseback riding along the road in a
parallel direction to that which I was going. They
had seen me leave the covert, without waiting for
the hounds, which they ought to have known
were running still after another fox; however,

when they found that the hounds were not run-