Page:Redcoat (1927).djvu/68

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culties were greatly increased. He had thought them hard enough before, but now he had to use great care in sneaking about the farm buildings because he left telltale tracks wherever he went. He was at first much disgusted with this soft white stuff which was so cold that it chilled his feet. Also when the new snow rattled off a bush upon him as he passed beneath it, it made him start, but he soon got used to it.

But, the greatest of the difficulties was that the Fox Club in the nearby city redoubled their efforts as soon as the new snow came. It was now much easier following for the hounds, and harder running for the fox, and much harder to elude the pack.

Ruses that had fooled the pack on bare ground went for nothing when there was snow. All of which Redcoat had to learn by sad experience. Several long chases the Fox Club gave him, and several narrow escapes he had. He usually followed the plan that his mother had mapped out on that fateful day when he had lost her upon the mountain. But now he always remembered