Part 27 (1/2)

”Of course we will,” said Archie, ”and I wouldn't take ten dollars for my chance of catching one.”

”You mean, if the snow doesn't melt,” said Frank, quietly.

”Oh, that's always the way with you,” said Archie. ”What makes you try to throw cold water on all our expectations, in that way?”

”I didn't intend to,” answered Frank, with a laugh; ”but, you know, we have been disappointed very often.”

”Yes,” said George, ”but I guess we are all right this time. It snows pretty fast, and the air doesn't feel like a thaw or rain.”

Frank acknowledged this; and they walked along, talking about the exciting times they expected to have on the morrow, until they reached the ”big elm”--a large tree that stood leaning over the creek, just half-way between Captain Butler's and where Frank lived. Here George and Harry stopped, and, after promising to be at the cottage early on the following morning, turned their faces homeward.

CHAPTER XVII.

The Grayhound Outgeneraled.

The next morning, at an early hour, George and Harry arrived at the cottage, and, after a light and hastily-eaten breakfast, they set out.

Frank and Harry were armed, as usual, with their guns, while the others carried axes. They crossed the meadow at the back of the orchard, pa.s.sed through the cornfield which had been the scene of the 'c.o.o.n-hunt, a few weeks before, and struck out through the woods. The dogs were then sent out ahead, and they had not gone more than half a mile, when Sport uttered a long, loud howl, and, when the boys came up with him, he was running impatiently about with his nose close to the ground.

”A fox has been along here,” said Frank, bending over and examining a track in the snow, ”and the trail looks fresh.”

”Hunt 'em up! hunt 'em up!” shouted Archie, excitedly, waving his hand to the dogs.

Sport bounded off on the track like a shot, and Lightfoot followed close after. Brave barked and howled furiously, and acted as if he wished very much to accompany them; but the swift hounds would have distanced him in a moment.

It must not be supposed that it was the intention of the boys to follow up the hounds--that would have been worse than useless. Perhaps the chase would continue for several hours. They had once hunted a fox all day, without coming in sight of him. Reynard has ways and habits of his own, which a person who has had experience in hunting him understands. He always runs with the wind, and generally follows a ridge. The hunters take advantage of this, and ”run cross-lots” to meet him, sometimes gaining on him several miles in this manner.

The moment the hounds had disappeared on the trail, Frank--who knew all the ”run-ways” of the game like a book--led the way through the woods toward a ridge that lay about a mile distant, where they expected the fox would pa.s.s.

A quarter of an hour's run brought them to this ridge, and they began to conceal themselves behind trees and bushes, when Archie suddenly exclaimed,

”We're dished, boys. The fox has already pa.s.sed.”

”Come on, then,” said Frank. ”No time to lose. We must try again.”

And he again led the way, on a keen run, through a strip of woods, across a wide meadow toward another ridge, that lay fully three miles distant.

At length the baying of the hounds echoed through the woods, far below them. Louder and louder it grew, and, in a few moments, they swept up the ridge in full cry. The boys hurried on as rapidly as possible, and reached the ridge in about an hour. Although they were accustomed to such sport, they were pretty well tired out. They had run the greater part of the way through thick woods, filled with fallen logs and tangled bushes; but they now felt confident that the hunt was nearly over. They knew they had gained considerably on the fox, and his capture would be an ample reward for their trouble.

As soon as they reached the ridge, they threw themselves rapidly across it in all directions, and, to their delight, discovered that the fox had not yet pa.s.sed. They stationed themselves in such a manner that it would be impossible for him to pa.s.s on either side of them without coming within reach of their guns, and patiently awaited his appearance. They had not remained long in this position, when Archie, who was stationed lowest down the ridge, exclaimed in a subdued voice,

”There they come, boys! Now, look sharp!”

The boys listened intently, and heard, faint and far off, the well-known bay of Sport. It was sharp and short--very different from the note he had uttered when the chase first commenced. Louder and louder grew the noise, as the hounds came rapidly up the ridge toward the place where the boys were stationed, and every one was on the alert, expecting every moment to see the fox break cover.

Suddenly a loud howl blended with Sport's baying, and the hounds seemed to turn and sweep down the valley.

”The fox has left the ridge, boys,” said Frank.