There,  rolled  up  in  the  buffaloes,  and  hidden  amid  the
boughs,  we  would  lie  .in  wait  for  them,  taking  care


112  FOX-HUNTING.
always  to  lay  our  ambuscade  to  the  leeward  side;
and  this  was  almost  always  the  southern  side  at  this
season  of  the  year.
On  three  successive  nights  a  fox  was  shot  before
nine  o'clock  (evening)  ;  but,  on  the  fourth  night,  a  fox
was  fired  at,  and  missed.  Apparently  he  went  and  told
all  the  other  foxes.  The  next  evening  there  was  a
great  and  querulous  yapping  at  a  respectful  distance
all  about  the  lure ;  but  never  a  fox  showed  himself.
They  seemed  to  be  informing  us  that  the  trick  was
now  "  too  thin ;  "  in  short,  that  it  was  "  played  out "
entirely.  We  afterwards  changed  the  position  of  the
bait,  carrying  it  down  to  the  swamp ;  but  had  no  further
success.
Two  foxes  were  also  shot  froin  a  window  in  the  back-
side of  the  stable  by  getting  up  early,  and  watching
there  for  a  shot  at  about  five  o'clock  in  the  morning.
At  that  time  they  seemed  to  come  boldly  up  near  the
out-buildings  after  bones,  chickens'  legs,  &c.
This  seeming  temerity  was  probably  the  result  of
their  experience,  that,  at  this  hour  of  the  morning,  there
was  rarely  any  one  stirring.
