Keen on the trail, were soon far in the woods.
Our old dog, "Ring," ran nosing the fresh track
With whimpering delight, far on ahead.
After following the trail more than a mile
To northward, through the thickest winter woods
We boys had ever seen,--all suddenly
He seemed to strike _another_ trail; and then
Our joyful attention was drawn to
Old "Ring"--leaping to this side, then to that,
Of a big, hollow, old oak-tree, which had
Been blown down by a storm some years before.
There--all at once--out leapt a lean old fox
From the black hollow of a big bent limb,--
Hey! how he scudded!--but with our old "Ring"
Sharp after him--and father after "Ring"--
We after father, near as we could hold!
And father noticed that the fox kept just
About four feet ahead of "Ring"--just _that_--
No farther, and no nearer! Then he said:--
"There are young foxes in that tree back there,

* * * * *

[Illustration: "A BIG, HOLLOW, OLD OAK-TREE, WHICH HAD BEEN BLOWN DOWN
BY A STORM."]

* * * * *

And the mother-fox is drawing 'Ring' and us
Away from their nest there!" "Oh, le' 's go back!--