lthewoodsringsoundingnearerandnearer,nowfromWell-Meadow,nowfromtheBakerFarm.Foralongtimehestoodstillandlistenedtotheirmusic,sosweettoahunter’sear,whensuddenlythefoxappeared,threadingthesolemnaisleswithaneasycoursingpace,whosesoundwasconcealedbyasympatheticrustleoftheleaves,swiftandstill,keepingtheground,leavinghispursuersfarbehindand,leapinguponarockamidthewoods,hesaterectandlistening,withhisbacktothehunter.Foramomentcompassionrestrainedthelatter’sarmbutthatwasashort-livedmood,andasquickasthoughtcanfollowthoughthispiecewaslevelled,andwhang!—thefoxrollingovertherocklaydeadontheground.Thehunterstillkepthisplaceandlistenedtothehounds.Stillontheycame,andnowthenearwoodsresoundedthroughalltheiraisleswiththeirdemoniaccry.Atlengththeoldhoundburstintoviewwithmuzzletotheground,andsnappingtheairasifpossessed,andrandirectlytotherockbutspyingthedeadfoxshesuddenlyceasedherhoundingasifstruckdumbwithamazement,andwalkedroundandroundhiminsilenceandonebyoneherpupsarrived,and,liketheirmother,weresoberedintosilencebythemystery.Thenthehuntercameforwardandstoodintheirmidst,andthemysterywassolved.Theywaitedinsilencewhileheskinnedthefox,thenfollowedthebrushawhile,andatlengthturnedoffintothewoodsagain.ThateveningaWestonSquirecametotheConcordhunter’scottagetoinquireforhishounds,andtoldhowforaweektheyhadbeenhuntingontheirownaccountfromWestonwoods.TheConcordhuntertoldhimwhatheknewandofferedhimtheskinbuttheotherdeclineditanddeparted.Hedidnotfindhishoundsthatnight,butthenextdaylearnedthattheyhadcrossedtheriverandputupatafarm-houseforthenight,whence,havingbeenwellfed,theytooktheirdepartureearlyinthemorning.
ThehunterwhotoldmethiscouldrememberoneSamNutting,whousedtohuntbearsonFairHavenLedges,andexchangetheirskinsforruminConcordvillagewhotoldhim,even,thathehadseenamoosethere.Nuttinghadafamo