Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 13, 1920 — page 111: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE SNOW his endurance. He knew the ways of the mountain fox. They were hard. Through the tangled blackberry briers he would lead the pack, into the most inaccessible places he would take them to elude his pursuers; over hills and valleys he would run until a lucky shot ended the chase, or perchance his burrow under some gigantic stone would save his life from the pursuing hounds. Patches was well acquainted with his sly ways and therefore he waited patiently for the unlatching of the chain that would set him free. From the clubhouse the hunters filed silently. The rosy brilliancy of a clear win- ter day was painted on the western sky in beams of yellow light’ that sparkled from the rapidly rising sun. The dogs were pull- ing the hunters ahead in their eagerness. Leading the party was S. Ferdinand, whose two thoroughbreds, Jip and Zip, were bark- ing in their enthusiasm to strike the trail. Reuben and Patches brought up the rear. Hardly had a hundred yards been covered before Patches stopped; his nose pointed toward the hillside, over which a mild win- ter breeze was stirring. The dog stood still, sniffing at some familiar scent in the air. His tail took on a grand pendulum swing and soon a loud baying came from his throat. “Wait a minute,” called ~Reuben. * Patches is saying that a fox is on yonder hill.” 3 S: Ferdinand halted the party with a malicious laugh. “Likely a pole-cat,” sneered he with a superior air. Reuben’s weather-tanned face flushed at the subtle insult to his dog’s intelligence, then he replied with quiet calm that Patches wasn’t in the habit of noticing pole-cats or other varmints when on the chase. He furthermore added that he would let Patches go and if he didn’t strike a fox track inside of five minutes that he would ~“ chaw ” his coon-skin cap. $. Ferdinand took him up promptly. Watch in hand, he began counting the seconds as Patches, with a bark of delight, dashed into the under- brush. The rest of the hounds set up a howl of disapproval when they saw Patches mounting up the hillside. BATH, 389 “One minute,” called S. Ferdinand. The silence of the mountain ranges, white in the majestic glory of King Winter’s holi- day attire, remained unbroken as S. Ferdi- nand shouted gleefully: “ Two,” Duane kept his eyes on Reuben’s immo- bile face. “Three!” Patches was gone. No sound had come from him so far. “ 3 “ Four!” Get your cap off for the chaw- in’ mimicked S. Ferdinand gladly. But the woodlands rang in a mighty ““ Au-u-uo! Au-u! Au!” before he could count five. Patches was off on the trail. His silvery voice awakened echoes that rang from frost-rimmed crags to wooded ridges. He had traveled far to strike the trail. His nose had been true, and Reuben’s faith in his ability had not been misplaced. “Don’t get excited!” shouted S. Ferdi- nand meanly. “ Our cocksure friend might have to do the chawin’ yet. Perhaps it’s a rabbit.” But the hunters scrambled up through the underbrush on the tracks that Patches had made in mighty leaps. His course had been straight. He had done no ‘trailing, simply followed the scent that he felt in the air. By a fallen tree the hunters stopped. ‘The white snow was scattered from its level smoothness. About five feet from the windfall were a number of gaping tracks made by Patches and a big red fox. “Sure ’nough, it’s a fox!” cried Duane excitedly. “See, it’s been lying on the windfall when Patches scented it. Here’s where it lit in its running away when Patches came up. See the tracks!” ‘“ Au-u-ua! Au-u-ua!” bayed Patches. The fox had made the first run, a short circle. He was now on the opposite side from the hunters. His voice rang with a clear vibrancy that thrilled the hearts of the sportsmen. The other hounds were loos- ened and a mad scramble in a wild race took place as they ran toward the “ Au-u- au-ing”’ of Patches. A volley of mingling tongues joined in the chase. “ That’s music,” said Reuben, stepping close to Duane’s side. ‘ Listen at ’em tun- ing up! Hear ’em go! They’re like the chimes of a big church ringing in unison. Did you ever hear the like?” cComicbooks: , — En a? ge eae are tee Se oe <a ws J SI pe een —- > ~ ete ee eee eee ee a ee a co ~ -te-~