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 family prevented a sad ending to this sudden danger.

The small foxes were having a wonderful romp, one bright night, chasing each other and biting and snarling, in mock battle. Fluffy herself was asleep. When Redcoat was on guard she usually slept at the mouth of the den.

Redcoat was perhaps fifty feet from the romping pups. Everything seemed to be going on merrily, when one of the small foxes uttered an agonized squeak. At the same time Redcoat noted a large black shadow on the ground beside him. He sprang to his feet like a red flash.

Glancing towards the mouth of the den he saw a large bird swooping down for one of the pups who was dodging and trying vainly to elude the great bird.

Fluffy had seen the danger at the same time, and was in ahead of Redcoat, as she was nearer. As the sharp talons of the great horned owl closed upon the small fox, Fluffy's jaws closed upon his leg. He flapped mightily, and for a moment it