Page:Redcoat (1927).djvu/73

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the track led on and on. Finally just as he was about to give up in disgust and go away to the meadows to hunt mice he came out into a little open spot in the woods, and there, standing backed up against a bush, with the moonlight falling full upon her, was a beautiful fox. Not as large or as dark as Redcoat, but with a wonderful skin. Her fur was all fluffed up in her excitement and she looked much larger than she really was. Redcoat always remembered her in future years as he had seen her that first night in the moonlight. But when he advanced to be friendly with her she turned and galloped away through the forest. But now he knew that there was a real live fox on the trail ahead of him. Redcoat himself did not care, but exulted in the chase. Out and in through the laurel he followed the trail until the stranger again halted, and this time he came up and sniffed noses with her, but once again she was off. For another half hour he lost sight of her and then another trail appeared close by hers. There were two foxes, but Redcoat's good nose