sometimesheardapackofhoundsthreadingallthewoodswithhoundingcryandyelp，unabletoresisttheinstinctofthechase，andthenoteofthehunting-hornatintervals，provingthatmanwasintherear。Thewoodsringagain，andyetnofoxburstsforthontotheopenlevelofthepond，norfollowingpackpursuingtheirActaeon。AndperhapsateveningIseethehuntersreturningwithasinglebrushtrailingfromtheirsleighforatrophy，seekingtheirinn。Theytellmethatifthefoxwouldremaininthebosomofthefrozenearthhewouldbesafe，orifbewouldruninastraightlineawaynofoxhoundcouldovertakehim；but，havinglefthispursuersfarbehind，hestopstorestandlistentilltheycomeup，andwhenherunshecirclesroundtohisoldhaunts，wherethehuntersawaithim。Sometimes，however，hewillrunuponawallmanyrods，andthenleapofffartooneside，andheappearstoknowthatwaterwillnotretainhisscent。AhuntertoldmethatheoncesawafoxpursuedbyhoundsburstoutontoWaldenwhentheicewascoveredwithshallowpuddles，runpartwayacross，andthenreturntothesameshore。Erelongthehoundsarrived，butheretheylostthescent。Sometimesapackhuntingbythemselveswouldpassmydoor，andcircleroundmyhouse，andyelpandhoundwithoutregardingme，asifafflictedbyaspeciesofmadness，sothatnothingcoulddivertthemfromthepursuit。Thustheycircleuntiltheyfallupontherecenttrailofafox，forawisehoundwillforsakeeverythingelseforthis。OnedayamancametomyhutfromLexingtontoinquireafterhishoundthatmadealargetrack，andhadbeenhuntingforaweekbyhimself。ButIfearthathewasnotthewiserforallItoldhim，foreverytimeIattemptedtoanswerhisquestionsheinterruptedmebyasking，“Whatdoyoudohere？“Hehadlostadog，butfoundaman。
Oneoldhunterwhohasadrytongue，whousedtocometobatheinWaldenonceeveryyearwhenthewaterwaswarmest，andatsuchtimeslookedinuponme，toldmethatmanyyearsagohetookhisgunoneafternoonandwentoutforacruiseinWaldenWood；andashewalkedtheWaylandroadheheardthecryofhoundsapproaching，anderelongafoxleapedthewallintotheroad，andasquickasthoughtleapedtheotherwalloutoftheroad，andhisswiftbullethadnottouchedhim。Somewaybehindcameanoldhoundandherthreepupsinfullpursuit，huntingontheirownaccount，anddisappearedagaininthewoods。Lateintheafternoon，ashewasrestinginthethickwoodssouthofWalden，heheardthevoiceofthehoundsfarovertowardFairHavenstillpursuingthefox；andontheycame，theirhoundingcrywhichmadeallthewoodsringsoundingnearerandnearer，nowfromWellMeadow，nowfromtheBakerFarm。
Foralongtimehestoodstillandlistenedtotheirmusic，sosweettoahunter’sear，whensuddenlythefoxappeared，threadingthesolemnaisleswithaneasycoursingpace，whosesoundwasconcealedbyasympatheticrustleoftheleaves，swiftandstill，keepingtheround，leavinghispursuersfarbehind；and，leapinguponarockamidthewoods，hesaterectandlistening，withhisbacktothehunter。Foramomentcompassionrestrainedthelatter’sarm；butthatwasashort-livedmood，andasquickasthoughtcanfollowthoughthispiecewaslevelled，andwhang！——thefox，rollingovertherock，laydeadontheground。Thehunterstillkepthisplaceandlistenedtothehounds。Stillontheycame，andnowthenearwoodsresoundedthroughalltheiraisleswiththeirdemoniaccry。
Atlengththeoldhoundburstintoviewwithmuzzletotheground，andsnappingtheairasifpossessed，andrandirectlytotherock；
but，spyingthedeadfox，shesuddenlyceasedherhoundingasifstruckdumbwithamazement，andwalkedroundandroundhiminsilence；andonebyoneherpupsarrived，and，liketheirmother，weresoberedintosilencebythemystery。Thenthehuntercameforwardandstoodintheirmidst，andthemysterywassolved。Theywaitedinsilencewhileheskinnedthefox，thenfollowedthebrushawhile，andatlengthturnedoffintothewoodsagain。ThateveningaWestonsquirecametotheConcordhunter’scottagetoinquireforhishounds，andtoldhowforaweektheyhadbeenhuntingontheirownaccountfromWestonwoods。TheConcordhuntertoldhimwhatheknewandofferedhimtheskin；buttheotherdeclineditanddeparted。Hedidnotfindhishoundsthatnight，butthenextdaylearnedthattheyhadcrossedtheriverandputupatafarmhouseforthenight，whence，havingbeenwellfed，theytooktheirdepartureearlyinthemorning。