eytellmethatifthefoxwouldremaininthebosomofthefrozenearthhewouldbesafe,orifhewouldruninastraightlineawaynofox-houndcouldovertakehimbut,havinglefthispursuersfarbehind,hestopstorestandlistentilltheycomeup,andwhenherunshecirclesroundtohisoldhaunts,wherethehuntersawaithim.Sometimes,however,hewillrunuponawallmanyrods,andthenleapofffartooneside,andheappearstoknowthatwaterwillnotretainhisscent.AhuntertoldmethatheoncesawafoxpursuedbyhoundsburstoutontoWaldenwhentheicewascoveredwithshallowpuddles,runpartwayacross,andthenreturntothesameshore.Erelongthehoundsarrived,butheretheylostthescent.Sometimesapackhuntingbythemselveswouldpassmydoor,andcircleroundmyhouse,andyelpandhoundwithoutregardingme,asifafflictedbyaspeciesofmadness,sothatnothingcoulddivertthemfromthepursuit.Thustheycircleuntiltheyfallupontherecenttrailofafox,forawisehoundwillforsakeeverythingelseforthis.OnedayamancametomyhutfromLexingtontoinquireafterhishoundthatmadealargetrack,andhadbeenhuntingforaweekbyhimself.ButIfearthathewasnotthewiserforallItoldhim,foreverytimeIattemptedtoanswerhisquestionsheinterruptedmebyasking,“Whatdoyoudohere?”Hehadlostadog,butfoundaman.
Oneoldhunterwhohasadrytongue,whousedtocometobatheinWaldenonceeveryyearwhenthewaterwaswarmest,andatsuchtimeslookedinuponme,toldmethatmanyyearsagohetookhisgunoneafternoonandwentoutforacruiseinWaldenWoodandashewalkedtheWaylandroadheheardthecryofhoundsapproaching,anderelongafoxleapedthewallintotheroad,andasquickasthoughtleapedtheotherwalloutoftheroad,andhisswiftbullethadnottouchedhim.Somewaybehindcameanoldhoundandherthreepupsinfullpursuit,huntingontheirownaccount,anddisappearedagaininthewoods.Lateintheafternoon,ashewasrestinginthethickwoodssouthofWalden,heheardthevoiceofthehoundsfarovertowardFairHavenstillpursuingthefoxandontheycame,theirhoundingcrywhichmadeal