Milton Bradley first edition - 1929
I had not got far into this novel, when I realised I had been 'spoiled' by Charles Roberts' book on Red Fox (see my previous Blog). Clarence Hawkes' tale has many similarities, but not quite the same intense sympathy with his animal hero, or the same poetic narrative. His Note to the Reader points out what all the other books subscribe to: nearly all animal biographies are composite - that is, the life of the particular animal represented, is made up from facts drawn from many sources. The naturalist very carefully collects all his own experiences with the special species and all those of his friends, as well as those of other writers in whom he has confidence. And that is what, possibly, downgrades this novel from the heights of Red Fox. Perhaps it smacks a little of 'scissors and paste', almost of journalese? I am probably being unfair, as Hawkes' Redcoat is still very much a believable animal.
His parents are simply called Mr/Father Fox and Mother Fox. Redcoat is one of four small fuzzy balls of foxhood, born early in June. He is the largest and perfectly marked...dark red above and lighter red on the belly, where it approached yellow. His siblings were Cross Fox, Little Brother and, the single female, Fuzzy! Although the parents gradually train their brood in hunting and what was dangerous, both are killed early on - the boy on the nearby farm, Bud Holcombe shoots Mr Fox, silhouetted against a dark bush; and the mother is killed by one of the local Fox Club. Little Brother was also shot by the Club; Fuzzy succumbed to a trap set in the woods; and Cross Fox was killed by a greyhound. By Chapter Four, Redcoat is alone. But not for long! By his own wits he must live or die, and Redcoat decided that he would live, and live well...the mountain, the fields and the woods belonged to him...not only that, but he would take from his enemy, the man, as often as the chance permitted. He meets up with a vixen - Fluffy ! - mates and is soon the proud father of four.
The story then follows similar lines to Roberts' tale. Hen houses are raided; muskrats are stalked and killed, an owl is caught trying to grab one of the cubs and is also killed; wild ducks are snatched from the backwater; a fat old woodchuck is outmanoeuvred; he taunts and maddens a bull; and Redcoat outwits Bud Holcombe and his father on several occasions. By using a very narrow path on the side of a mountain to his advantage, the pursuing greyhound, Racer, hurtles to his death onto rocks sixty feet below. Twice he is saved by a tender-hearted Kitty Mason, Bud's sweetheart, on one occasion by being whisked away hidden at the back of her trap. Even Bud Holcombe rescues him from the railway line, where Redcoat's tongue has frozen to a rail! There is also a forest fire (I can't believe Hawkes had not read Charles Roberts' book), where Kitty actually looks after one of the fleeing young foxes.
The local farmers, by now, are nicknaming Redcoat 'The Phantom Fox', as the tales of his sightings and escapes grow, some true someembroidered. It becomes almost a matter of honour that the local Meadowdale Fox Club should hunt him down. To no avail. Redcoat cleverly uses an oncoming train to see off the pursuing pack of hounds; more than once hides in a culvert for hours as the dogs fruitlessly search for him; whilst his most miraculous escape is by log-riding down the rapids of the local river. Eventually he is trapped - by Bud Holcombe no less - incautiously entering a henhouse due to the enticing daubings of a 'fox charm'. However, he is not to meet his Maker, but to be transported to the Sheerfield Silver Fox Farm, forty miles up the river. Bud will get $500 from the owner Mr. Jennings, who wants to cross his blue foxes with a fine male specimen of the red fox. So off go Bud and Redcoat to the Farm and Bud pockets the cash whilst Redcoat settled down, corralled by secure wire netting, galvanised, six feet high and bent over at a right angle at the top, extending about a foot and a half over the pen. The netting also extends underground for about twenty inches. The only good news is that Redcoat is handed a stranger as company - a beautiful, friendly blue Fox from the Behring Sea, Blue Lady. Galvanised fencing notwithstanding, Redcoat had not been born to see out his days in captivity. So, rather like in the Great Escape, both foxes dig their way out and head for the nearest woods. Finally after four months of leisurely travelling, Redcoat and his companion came to a lonely land just on the border between the New England states and the Dominion of Canada. With six fox cubs to look after, as well as his mate, Redcoat has at last found the refuge from his many enemies and is happy, after his kind. No more is heard the diabolical shriek of the Thunderer, the honking of automobile horns, or the baying of fox hounds. Instead, there is a bird song and the low music of the singing brook, and a deep peace over all the land.* Amen.
* not, of course, if you are a wood mouse, duck, poultry or any other foxy prey!
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