8 MAN 



indoors, and again she resumed the quest, if 

 possible with greater keenness than before. 

 Every stride now was taking her dangerously 

 nearer and nearer to the hare, but whilst she 

 was yet some five or six rods below the form 

 a sheep-dog barked, and in an instant she was 

 transformed from a lithe hunter into a craven 

 creature. Crouching, she fixed her gaze on the 

 dog expressing his delight at the reappearance 

 of his master, who stood in shirt-sleeves at the 

 open door. *' Down, Shep." At the sound of 

 the man's voice the vixen sank into the herbage 

 as if turned to lead, and remained there motion- 

 less, save in heaving flank and lolling tongue. 

 Presently the farmer withdrew ; the vixen slunk 

 down the hill, carefully avoiding the exposed 

 places, climbed the wall, and vanished from 

 sight. 



Much as the hare was relieved by this 

 retreat, she could not regain her peace of 

 mind ; for the visit left her with the fear that 

 the creature would return at nightfall and 

 renew the search, a thought which urged her 

 to remove the leverets at dusk. But where.'* 

 The nearest spot that commended itself to her 

 was at the foot of Bartinney, about a mile 

 distant ; and the way thither led across the 

 trails of fox and badger, who might surprise her 



