The hill proved to be a great deal larger than Oscar thought it was, for more than an hour passed before Bugle came around to him; but that he had struck a trail, and a warm one, too, was evident, judging by the way he gave tongue.
At last, his deep-toned bays began to ring out louder and clearer, and then Oscar brought his gun to his shoulder, and standing as motionless as a figure carved out of stone, kept his eye moving about the clear space below him; but the fox did not break cover.
He must have passed that way, however, for in a few minutes more Bugle dashed around the base of the hill, giving tongue at every jump, and started for another hour's run around the sugar-loaf.
As soon as he was out of hearing, Oscar put down the hammers of his gun and ran across the open space at the top of his speed.
"I was on the right track," thought he, "but not quite far enough down the hill. Now, I wish I knew where that fellow turns off when he makes up his mind to cross the hollow and go over to the hill on the other side. Ah! Here is where he passed. If he tries that trick again he is my fox."
The exclamations were called forth by the discovery of a well beaten path which ran diagonally toward the summit of the hill.
A short examination of it showed the hunter that it had been made by Mr. Bacon's sheep; and his experience told him that the fox had followed that path in the hope of throwing off the hound.
Crossing newly ploughed fields where the scent will not lie, walking on the top-rail of fences, wading in shallow brooks, and running about among a flock of sheep, or following a road along which they have recently passed, are stratagems to which a cunning old fox will frequently resort to throw off the dogs that are pursuing his trail; but Bugle was much too smart to be deceived by any such tricks, and he had followed the fox up the path without the least trouble.
Being fully satisfied that he had found the right place at last, Oscar stationed himself in front of a large tree that stood a short distance up the path, and in such a position that he could look over the tops of the bushes that surrounded it and command a view of the trail for twenty yards on each side, and patiently waited for Bugle to drive the fox around to him again.
It was a long time before he heard from the hound—longer than before—and then he heard but a few faint bays, after which all was silent again.