's spread out a bit, Ben, and try to head the fox off."

He ran to the right, and I followed him, at some distance behind. We
could hear that Zab was coming nearer, as we ran, and at last we heard a
bang.

"The little cuss has got him, I'll bet you. Come on, Ben."

We ran on and came to the gully; and at the lower end of it was Amos,
with my frock on, which reached down to the ground. He was holding up
the fox, and Zab was jumping up and down.

"Good boy, Amos! Now tell us about it."

"Well, I did just as you t-t-told me, Davy. I went up the lane till I
c-came to the gully and saw the stone wall. I found a good b-bush about
twenty-five yards from the wall, and got behind it and waited till I
began to feel c-cold. I pulled Ben's frock on, and left the neck of it
open so that I could get the stock of the gun in to my shoulder, and
spread out your f-frock and knelt on it. Then I heard Zab, and knew that
he was c-coming toward me. I got ready and saw the fox creeping down the
g-gully, and he did just as you said he would. When he got to the wall
he p-put his fore paws upon it, p-pricked up his ears, and moved them
forward and back as he listened for Zab, and I f-fired. I aimed at his
b-b-breast and p-put two b-buckshot in his breast and one in his neck."

[Sidenote: DR. FISKE HAS A PATIENT]

"Yer done well, Amos. I couldn't a done better myself. He has a good fur
and is a mighty fine fox."

It was getting pretty well along in the afternoon, and we thought we had
had enough of hunting. I picked up the fox and carried it for Amos till
we reached Dog Lane, when he left us. We found the partridge where we
had tied it to a branch.

When we reached Dr. Fiske's, his sleigh was in front of the door. The
doctor had put on a small riding wig with an eelskin cue, and was
getting into his greatcoat.

"You're just in time, Benny; old Francis Whittemore, down at the East
Village, has had a fit; and I've got to go and see what I can do for
him. The old man has too much blood, and it's gone to his head. We must
bleed him. Take the lancets, Jonathan, and the basin too, and a bottle
of Daffy's Elixir. There's nothing like it to tone up the stomach. Now
we are all ready. Tie your rackets on behind and sit in the bottom of
the sleigh, Ben."

The doctor and his son Jonathan got in, and I sat in the straw till the
doctor pulled up and let me out not far from our house.

CHAPTER IV

TRADING IN THOSE DAYS--BEN IS APPRENTICED-