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 Still another time, later on in the autumn, they heard a very loud sound several times. This sound was like thunder and it rolled away in many echoes through the ancient woods. Father Fox and Mother Fox seemed much disturbed by the sound, but it was just Bud Holcome hunting partridges. But after the sun had set Father Fox went on a searching party, and finally discovered an empty shell which Bud had thrown on the ground. This he carefully marked down and again brought his entire family to investigate.

Other lessons there were. Lessons intended to put the young foxes on guard against all the many dangers that lurked in ambush for them. It was not Father Fox's fault, if any member of his family ultimately came to grief, for he did his work well.

As far as he could, he made his family proof against the wiles of man, boy and dog, or trap and poison. But who can guard against the chances and the lottery of the life in the wild? It was a great game of