He came from there only a year ago this last September." David asked no more questions.

He turned his attention entirely to his fish.

In that same moment there came an outburst from the foxes that made Thoreau grin.

Their yapping rose until it was a clamorous demand.
Then the dogs joined in.

To David it seemed as though there must be a thousand foxes out in the Frenchman's pens, and at least a hundred dogs just beyond the cabin walls.