The King of the Foxes

The King of the Foxes

The narrative follows Wat Danbury, a young man who inherits a modest estate and becomes embroiled in the local hunting scene. Initially a keen sportsman, he falls into a drinking habit, which raises concerns about his health. After a particularly heavy night of drinking, he seeks the advice of Dr. Middleton, who warns him about the potential for severe health issues if he continues his lifestyle. Determined to shake off his malaise, Danbury decides to join a hunt, hoping the fresh air will revive him. As the hunt begins, he finds himself exhilarated, riding his mare, Matilda, and quickly becomes one of the leading riders. The hunt is intense, with the hounds picking up a strong scent, and Danbury is caught up in the thrill of the chase. As the hunt progresses, Danbury and a few others find themselves in a fierce race against time, navigating challenging terrain. The excitement builds as they pursue a fox that seems to elude them, leading to a grueling run across the countryside. However, the hunt takes a dark turn when Danbury hears the hounds' cries shift from triumph to terror, indicating they have encountered something far more dangerous than a mere fox. Upon reaching a clearing, Danbury witnesses a horrific scene: a massive creature, resembling a wolf, attacks the hounds. Overcome with fear, he flees, abandoning the hunt and racing back home, convinced he is losing his sanity. He arrives home in a panic, seeking the doctor’s help once more. Dr. Middleton listens to Danbury's harrowing account and initially attributes his experience to the effects of his drinking. However, the next day, a newspaper reveals that the hunt's hounds were indeed attacked by a wolf, confirming Danbury's terrifying encounter was real. This revelation serves as a turning point for Danbury, who vows to abandon his reckless lifestyle and embrace a more responsible existence, having learned a valuable lesson about the fragility of health and the dangers of excess.

By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle · First published 1922 · Genre: Adventure, Drama, Mystery · 7,405 words

First lines

It was after a hunting dinner, and there were as many scarlet coats as black ones round the table. The conversation over the cigars had turned, therefore, in the direction of horses and horsemen, with reminiscences of phenomenal runs where foxes had led the pack from end to end of a county, and been overtaken at last by two or three limping hounds and a huntsman on foot, while every rider in the field had been pounded. As the port circulated the runs became longer and more apocryphal, until we had the whips inquiring their way and failing to understand the dialect of the people who answered them. The foxes, too, became mere eccentric, and we had foxes up pollard willows, foxes which were dragged by the tail out of horses' mangers, and foxes which had raced through an open front door and gone to ground in a lady's bonnet-box. The master had told one or two tall reminiscences, and when he cleared his throat for another we were all curious, for he was a bit of an artist in his way, and produced his effects in a _crescendo_ fashion. His face wore the earnest, practical, severely accurate expression which heralded some of his finest efforts.

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The King of the Foxes is listed on Textopian as a short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, dated 1922 CE.

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historical fiction · adventure · mystery · political intrigue · betrayal · loyalty · war · strategy · courage · friendship · deception · nobility

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