Quotation from: The Valley of the Moon

Written by: Jack London

"A few dollars at the right time would a-saved hundreds on that
roof," Billy commented. "Well, anyway, I won't be payin' for any
improvements when I buy. An I'll tell you another thing. This
ranch is full of water, and if Glen Ellen ever grows they'll have
to come to see me for their water supply."

Billy knew the ranch thoroughly, and took short-cuts through the
woods by way of cattle paths. Once, he reined in abruptly, and
both stopped. Confronting them, a dozen paces away, was a
half-grown red fox. For half a minute, with beady eyes, the wild
thing studied them, with twitching sensitive nose reading the
messages of the air. Then, velvet-footed, it leapt aside and was
gone among the trees.