Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1883 — Cunning Maine Foxes. [ARTICLE]

Cunning Maine Foxes.

Lewiston Journal. One morning last week, as I was crossing lots with my hound, I saw an old red fox run into a thicket. I put my dog on his track, and concealed myself in the thicket knowing that a fox will often circle and pick up his old track. I could hear the hound baying off toward New Gloucester. Then it changed and grew more and more distinct, and I knew the fox was i eturning. I must have waited some half an hour, when I saw the fox dart into a hollow log a little distance to my left; but, as he went out at the other end, I remained in my hiding-place, supposing it a trick of the fox to put the dog off the track. The dog was puzzled only an instant', and followed the fox on a longer circuit this time, but in the course of an hour I saw it again enter one end of the log and come out at the other. Thinks I “My chap, I’ll play you a Yankee trick by stopping up the further end of that log.” This I did, and again hid myself, hoping for a third return. I was hidden about the same length of time, when, by the : "voice of my dog, I knew the fox was returning. A few minutes later I saw the fox enter the log. I ran up to the open end and soon had it secured. This being done, I waited the coming up of the dog, which I tied to a sapling, while I went out to get an ax. I soon got back and opened the log sufficiently to see four foxes instead of one. “How was that?” It's plain enough. One fox would run j until tired, then would enter the log, and another would take i*s place.