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。
ThehunterwhotoldmethiscouldrememberoneSamNutting，whousedtohuntbearsonFairHavenLedges，andexchangetheirskinsforruminConcordvillage；whotoldhim，even，thathehadseenamoosethere。NuttinghadafamousfoxhoundnamedBurgoyne——hepronounceditBugine——whichmyinformantusedtoborrow。Inthe“WastBook“ofanoldtraderofthistown，whowasalsoacaptain，town-clerk，andrepresentative，Ifindthefollowingentry。Jan。
18th，1742-3，“JohnMelvenCr。by1GreyFox0——2——3“；theyarenotnowfoundhere；andinhisledger，Feb，7th，1743，HezekiahStrattonhascredit“by1/2aCattskin0——1——4“；ofcourse，awild-cat，forStrattonwasasergeantintheoldFrenchwar，andwouldnothavegotcreditforhuntinglessnoblegame。Creditisgivenfordeerskinsalso，andtheyweredailysold。Onemanstillpreservesthehornsofthelastdeerthatwaskilledinthisvicinity，andanotherhastoldmetheparticularsofthehuntinwhichhisunclewasengaged。Thehunterswereformerlyanumerousandmerrycrewhere。IrememberwellonegauntNimrodwhowouldcatchupaleafbytheroadsideandplayastrainonitwilderandmoremelodious，ifmymemoryservesme，thananyhunting-horn。
Atmidnight，whentherewasamoon，Isometimesmetwithhoundsinmypathprowlingaboutthewoods，whichwouldskulkoutofmyway，asifafraid，andstandsilentamidthebushestillIhadpassed。
Squirrelsandwildmicedisputedformystoreofnuts。Therewerescoresofpitchpinesaroundmyhouse，fromonetofourinchesindiameter，whichhadbeengnawedbymicethepreviouswinter——aNorwegianwinterforthem，forthesnowlaylonganddeep，andtheywereobligedtomixalargeproportionofpinebarkwiththeirotherdiet。Thesetreeswerealiveandapparentlyflourishingatmidsummer，andmanyofthemhadgrownafoot，thoughcompletelygirdled；butafteranotherwintersuchwerewithoutexceptiondead。
Itisremarkablethatasinglemouseshouldthusbeallowedawholepinetreeforitsdinner，gnawingroundinsteadofupanddownit；
butperhapsitisnecessaryinordertothinthesetrees，whicharewonttogrowupdensely。
TheharesLepusAmericanuswereveryfamiliar。Onehadherformundermyhouseallwinter，separatedfrommeonlybytheflooring，andshestartledmeeachmorningbyherhastydeparturewhenIbegantostir——thump，thump，thump，strikingherheadagainstthefloortimbersinherhurry。TheyusedtocomeroundmydooratdusktonibblethepotatoparingswhichIhadthrownout，andweresonearlythecolorofthegroundthattheycouldhardlybedistinguishedwhenstill。SometimesinthetwilightIalternatelylostandrecoveredsightofonesittingmotionlessundermywindow。
WhenIopenedmydoorintheevening，offtheywouldgowithasqueakandabounce。Nearathandtheyonlyexcitedmypity。Oneeveningonesatbymydoortwopacesfromme，atfirsttremblingwithfear，yetunwillingtomove；apoorweething，leanandbony，withraggedearsandsharpnose，scanttailandslenderpaws。ItlookedasifNaturenolongercontainedthebreedofnoblerbloods，butstoodonherlasttoes。Itslargeeyesappearedyoungandunhealthy，almostdropsical。Itookastep，andlo，awayitscudwithanelasticspringoverthesnow-crust，straighteningitsbodyanditslimbsintogracefullength，andsoonputtheforestbetweenmeanditself——thewildfreevenison，assertingitsvigorandthedignityofNature。Notwithoutreasonwasitsslenderness。Suchthenwasitsnature。Lepus，levipes，light-foot，somethink。
Whatisacountrywithoutrabbitsandpartridges？Theyareamongthemostsimpleandindigenousanimalproducts；ancientandvenerablefamiliesknowntoantiquityastomoderntimes；oftheveryhueandsubstanceofNature，nearestalliedtoleavesandtotheground——andtooneanother；itiseitherwingedoritislegged。Itishardlyasifyouhadseenawildcreaturewhenarabbitorapartridgeburstsaway，onlyanaturalone，asmuchtobeexpectedasrustlingleaves。Thepartridgeandtherabbitarestillsuretothrive，liketruenativesofthesoil，whateverrevolutionsoccur。Iftheforestiscutoff，thesproutsandbusheswhichspringupaffordthemconcealment，andtheybecomemorenumerousthanever。Thatmustbeapoorcountryindeedthatdoesnotsupportahare。Ourwoodsteemwiththemboth，andaroundeveryswampmaybeseenthepartridgeorrabbitwalk，besetwithtwiggyfencesandhorse-hairsnares，whichsomecow-boytends。
ThePondinWinterAfterastillwinternightIawokewiththeimpressionthatsomequestionhadbeenputtome，whichIhadbeenendeavoringinvaintoanswerinmysleep，aswhat——how——when——where？ButtherewasdawningNature，inwhomallcreatureslive，lookinginatmybroadwindowswithsereneandsatisfiedface，andnoquestiononherlips。
Iawoketoanansweredquestion，toNatureanddaylight。Thesnowlyingdeepontheearthdottedwithyoungpines，andtheveryslopeofthehillonwhichmyhouseisplaced，seemedtosay，Forward！
Natureputsnoquestionandanswersnonewhichwemortalsask。Shehaslongagotakenherresolution。“OPrince，oureyescontemplatewithadmirationandtransmittothesoulthewonderfulandvariedspectacleofthisuniverse。Thenightveilswithoutdoubtapartofthisgloriouscreation；butdaycomestorevealtousthisgreatwork，whichextendsfromearthevenintotheplainsoftheether。“
Thentomymorningwork。FirstItakeanaxeandpailandgoinsearchofwater，ifthatbenotadream。Afteracoldandsnowynightitneededadivining-rodtofindit。Everywintertheliquidandtremblingsurfaceofthepond，whichwassosensitivetoeverybreath，andreflectedeverylightandshadow，becomessolidtothedepthofafootorafootandahalf，sothatitwillsupporttheheaviestteams，andperchancethesnowcoversittoanequaldepth，anditisnottobedistinguishedfromanylevelfield。Likethemarmotsinthesurroundinghills，itclosesitseyelidsandbecomesdormantforthreemonthsormore。Standingonthesnow-coveredplain，asifinapastureamidthehills，Icutmywayfirstthroughafootofsnow，andthenafootofice，andopenawindowundermyfeet，where，kneelingtodrink，Ilookdownintothequietparlorofthefishes，pervadedbyasoftenedlightasthroughawindowofgroundglass，withitsbrightsandedfloorthesameasinsummer；
thereaperennialwavelessserenityreignsasintheambertwilightsky，correspondingtothecoolandeventemperamentoftheinhabitants。Heavenisunderourfeetiswellasoverourheads。
Earlyinthemorning，whileallthingsarecrispwithfrost，mencomewithfishing-reelsandslenderlunch，andletdowntheirfinelinesthroughthesnowyfieldtotakepickerelandperch；wildmen，whoinstinctivelyfollowotherfashionsandtrustotherauthoritiesthantheirtownsmen，andbytheirgoingsandcomingsstitchtownstogetherinpartswhereelsetheywouldberipped。Theysitandeattheirluncheoninstoutfear-naughtsonthedryoakleavesontheshore，aswiseinnaturalloreasthecitizenisinartificial。
Theyneverconsultedwithbooks，andknowandcantellmuchlessthantheyhavedone。Thethingswhichtheypracticearesaidnotyettobeknown。Hereisonefishingforpickerelwithgrownperchforbait。Youlookintohispailwithwonderasintoasummerpond，asifhekeptsummerlockedupathome，orknewwhereshehadretreated。How，pray，didhegettheseinmidwinter？Oh，hegotwormsoutofrottenlogssincethegroundfroze，andsohecaughtthem。Hislifeitselfpassesdeeperinnaturethanthestudiesofthenaturalistpenetrate；himselfasubjectforthenaturalist。Thelatterraisesthemossandbarkgentlywithhisknifeinsearchofinsects；theformerlaysopenlogstotheircorewithhisaxe，andmossandbarkflyfarandwide。Hegetshislivingbybarkingtrees。Suchamanhassomerighttofish，andIlovetoseenaturecarriedoutinhim。Theperchswallowsthegrub-worm，thepickerelswallowstheperch，andthefisher-manswallowsthepickerel；andsoallthechinksinthescaleofbeingarefilled。
WhenIstrolledaroundthepondinmistyweatherIwassometimesamusedbytheprimitivemodewhichsomeruderfishermanhadadopted。
Hewouldperhapshaveplacedalderbranchesoverthenarrowholesintheice，whichwerefourorfiverodsapartandanequaldistancefromtheshore，andhavingfastenedtheendofthelinetoasticktopreventitsbeingpulledthrough，havepassedtheslacklineoveratwigofthealder，afootormoreabovetheice，andtiedadryoakleaftoit，which，beingpulleddown，wouldshowwhenhehadabite。Thesealdersloomedthroughthemistatregularintervalsasyouwalkedhalfwayroundthepond。
Ah，thepickerelofWalden！whenIseethemlyingontheice，orinthewellwhichthefishermancutsintheice，makingalittleholetoadmitthewater，Iamalwayssurprisedbytheirrarebeauty，asiftheywerefabulousfishes，theyaresoforeigntothestreets，eventothewoods，foreignasArabiatoourConcordlife。Theypossessaquitedazzlingandtranscendentbeautywhichseparatesthembyawideintervalfromthecadaverouscodandhaddockwhosefameistrumpetedinourstreets。Theyarenotgreenlikethepines，norgraylikethestones，norbluelikethesky；buttheyhave，tomyeyes，ifpossible，yetrarercolors，likeflowersandpreciousstones，asiftheywerethepearls，theanimalizednucleiorcrystalsoftheWaldenwater。They，ofcourse，areWaldenalloverandallthrough；arethemselvessmallWaldensintheanimalkingdom，Waldenses。Itissurprisingthattheyarecaughthere——
thatinthisdeepandcapaciousspring，farbeneaththerattlingteamsandchaisesandtinklingsleighsthattraveltheWaldenroad，thisgreatgoldandemeraldfishswims。Ineverchancedtoseeitskindinanymarket；itwouldbethecynosureofalleyesthere。