142 THE LIFE OF A FOX.

hunter on his return home, a man having seen
me.

Having escaped from this lively pack of
hounds, I did not venture to remain in this
part ; but at once took up my abode near Foulden,
where I was again found by Lord Elcho and
his pack, though I fancied I had selected an
out of the way spot near the river: Whiteadder,
with which part I was well acquainted, as
his lordship has reason to know and to regret.
After they had hunted me some time, finding
myself distressed, I was induced to return to
my old haunts, creeping along a narrow track,
by the side of the steep and rocky bank which
overhung the river, the height of which, where
I passed, was nearly a hundred feet. Several
of these high-couraged hounds, in attempting
to follow me, lost their footing, fell to. the bottom,
and were killed. It was only strange that a
single hound escaped ; and though I certainly did
not intend to assist in preventing their destruc-
tion, yet such happened to be the case; for

having waited, when in my narrow track, for