THE BLACK FOX

Well, as we were out a-hunting one morning in the spring,
Both hounds and horses running well made the hills and the valleys ring;

But to our great misfortune, no fox there could be found;
And our huntsman cursed and swore but still no fox moved over the ground.

Then up spoke our master huntsman. At the head of the hounds rode he.
"Well we have ridden for a full three hours but no fox have we seen.

"And there is strength still in me, and I will have my chase,
And if only the devil himself come by, we'd run him such a race."

Then up there sprung like lightning a fox from out of his hole,
And his fur was the colour of a starless night and his eyes like burning coal.

And they chased him over the valley and they chased him over the field,
And they chased him down to the riverbank but never would he yield.

And he has jumped into the water, and he's swum to the other side,
And he laughed so loud that the green woods shook, then he's turned to the huntsman and he's cried:

"Ride on, my gallant huntsman. When must I come again?
Oh, never shall you want for a fox to chase all over the plain.

"And when your need is greatest, just call upon my name,
And I will come and you shall have the best of sport and game."

And the men looked up in wonder, and the hounds ran back to hide,
For the fox had changed to the devil himself where he stood at the other side.

And the men, the hounds, the horses went flying back to town,
And hard on their heels came a little black fox laughing as he ran.

"O ride on, my gallant huntsman. When must I come again?
O never shall you want for a fox to chase all over the plain."

"And when your need is greatest, just call upon my name,
And I will come and you shall have the best of sport and game."