At last the dogs overtake the fox and kill him. The first lady "in at the death" gets the " brush " or the bushy tail of the fox as a trophy for her brave riding. A trophy is anything taken from an opponent and kept as an evidence of victory or success. But, you see, in all this "sport," as it is called, no one considers how the little animal feels or what he thinks.

What do you think of the "sport"?

In this story, Mr. Roberts tells us Red Fox's side of the story. He wishes us to see this famous sport from the viewpoint of the fox and not from the viewpoint of the hunters. You will surely like to know how Red Fox felt as he was chased by the baying pack of hounds and the crowds of fine gentlemen and ladies, and you will be glad to know how he escaped from his tormentors.

If you get out all the pleasure that is in this story, you will need to read over very carefully the meanings of the following words:

elated: joyous over Red Fox's | Ringwaak (ring-wäk): a district in eastern Canada. attitude : the boy's fear that

capture.

devices ways of doing things.
slack with muscles limp.
gibes: jokes about the fox's
being dead.

panic: a fear so great that one does
not know the right thing to do.
haunches: hind legs and hips.
pondered thought deeply.
disdain deep dislike that one
shows by not paying attention
to the thing disliked.
ignored paid no attention to.
monotonous : wearisome; " noth-
ing happening."
uncompromisingly unwilling to
"make up" with his captor.

Red Fox might be badly treated if sold.

zoological gardens (zō-ô-lŏj'íkal) places in cities where many kinds of animals are kept in cages in beautiful parks.

indignation: anger mingled with resentment.

coverts (kuv'erts): hiding places. phenomenal remarkable, won

derful, unusual. bewildering tumult: a great noise that frightened Red Fox "out of his wits."

The complete story of "Red Fox" traces the career of a fox of the backwoods districts of eastern Canada. After many very interesting and thrilling experiences, the hero of the story, Red Fox, is finally captured by a backwoodsman and a young boy who take him to the boy's home, hoping to tame him.

RED FOX

PART I

Securely wrapped up in an oat sack, with just the black tip of his nose sticking out, Red Fox showed never a sign of life during the long journey to the home of the boy. But if the elated victors had taken it into their 5 heads to peer suddenly into the end of the roll of sacking, past the black nose tip, they would have caught a shrewd and watchful eye wide open. Helpless as he was for the moment, he knew that he could not be carried in that way forever. There must come some 10 change; he was full of devices; and he had no idea of counting the great game lost.

When the boy had unrolled him, had chained him to a staple in the corner of a large box stall in the barn, and had undone the bonds that fettered his legs, Red 15 Fox still lay limp, so utterly slack in every sinew that the backwoodsman was more than ever assured that he was dead. To all gibes, however, the boy answered, merely, "Come back in the morning and see!"

From a small window, the moonlight came pouring 20 in, lighting the center of the stall brilliantly and leaving

the corners in deep shadow. The moment Red Fox knew that he was alone, he gave a sharp leap, which tested the soundness of the chain. He felt himself jerked backwards and thrown off his feet, which convinced him that the chain was strong. Having assured 5 himself as to its strength and also as to its length (which was about six feet), he now began to test it minutely with nose and teeth, holding it down between his forepaws and going over every link right up to the staple in the wall. Finding no flaw nor weakness anywhere 10 in the cold steel, which hurt his teeth, he next set himself to the task of pulling the collar off over his head. Backing away, he strained and tugged with all his might, but succeeded only in choking himself till his eyes and tongue stuck out. As soon as he had recovered 15 from this touch of panic and had fully regained his breath, he was seized with a new idea. In the corner of the stall was a heap of chaff and fine straw. In this he carefully buried the slack section of the chain; and when the work was done, he crept away, trusting 20 to leave his tormentor behind. But when he saw the snaky thing emerge from its hiding, and felt it once more tug at his neck, he seemed to realize the folly of his choice. For a few minutes, he sat up on his haunches, and pondered; then, seeing that for the 25 time there was nothing else to be done, he curled himself up in a corner and went to sleep.

When, somewhat early in the morning, the boy came to the stall with a dish of water and a tempting piece

of fresh meat, Red Fox gave him one long look of disdain, retreated with dignity to his corner, and ignored the visit. He was hungry and very thirsty; but in the visitor's hated presence, he scorned to show either 5 of these needs. When the boy approached him too closely, he would show his white teeth, and a deep green color would come into his eyes. This was a signal meaning "Keep off!" and the boy, understanding it very well, obeyed. As soon as he was gone, Red Fox lapped 10 up the water greedily, and fell upon the raw beef. He had no intention of starving himself, but he was not going to give the boy the satisfaction of watching him eat.

And now began, for the unhappy captive, four weeks 15 of monotonous vain longing. Twice a day, in the early morning and in the first of the twilight, he would go through his efforts to escape, testing the chain link by link, and then hopefully burying it in the chaff. Meanwhile, the boy tried to win the confidence of the 20 splendid captive. Dainties to eat, fresh water twice a day, gentle conversation, quiet, gradual advances, all were faithfully tried, but all in vain. At the end of the month, the scorn in Red Fox's eyes was as clear and uncompromising as ever, whenever his jailer came 25 too near. Then, reluctantly, but on his father's advice, the boy made up his mind that the tameless cap tive must be sold.

About this time, - for the fame of Red Fox and the story of his capture had spread far beyond the Ring

waak neighborhood, - a well-dressed stranger appeared at the settlement and asked to see the fox. The visitor presently made an offer to buy him.

"What do you want him for?" asked the boy, doubtfully.

The stranger eyed him with care before replying, and understood something of his attitude.

"To sell to some big zoölogical gardens," he replied, easily, "where he'll be thoroughly appreciated."

5

Much relieved, the boy agreed at once, and pocketed 10 a price beyond his wildest hopes. Had he known, however, the buyer's real purpose, he would have rejected any price with indignation. Red Fox was destined, not for a brilliant "zoo," where he would be pampered and admired, but for the coverts of a Hunt Club in 15 one of the great states, where his strength and cunning might be expected to give phenomenal sport before the hounds should finally tear him to pieces.

Red Fox, in his strong-barred crate, was glad of any change that meant getting away from the gloomy box20 stall in the barn. He was carried in an open express wagon some fifteen miles to the nearest railway station. At last, after an hour's wait, the train came roaring and clattering down the rails; and Red Fox, in his crate on the platform, shrank back against the bars 25 with starting eyeballs, imagining that the end of all things had come upon the world. When the loud monster had passed him and had come to a stop, and he found himself still alive, he was trembling so that