Foxing the fox

"sniff the vermin out", "tally-ho and all that show!"
"now sound the blasted horn, dear sir, won't you please?"
"gentlemen, i keep my word - my wife will have a fur"
"we'll have us all a fine kill - in time for tea, sir".

heart is pounding, mind is racing, hunt is on
through the brushwood, through the trees, must keep on
i can hear bloodthirsty cries now can't be long
before i face those snarling jaws, yes, head on.

softly now i sense that they might draw me in
they're across to cut me off, they'll have my skin
quietly doubling back against a fearful noise
hope to slip the net and miss the red-coat boys.

"he should have come through here by now"
"where has that vermin gone?"
"he's escaped this time - but how?"
"so close we were to him"

"the blighters doubled back"
"tally-ho! and all that show"
"i guess we'll have him in the sack"
"just a mile or so…."

they've seen me now, i've slipped them once, yet at what cost?
now i'm well within their sights, all might be lost
just hope to find a place to hide where i'll be safe
perhaps they'll all give in through this chase
i'm weakening, i'm sickening
i feel their breath

raising hairs upon my neck, the chill of death.
if i can just keep going for another mile
perhaps i'll cheat them of their game and rest awhile.
"the blighter's got away!"
"how did he get away?"
"the blighter's got away!"