18 THEY ARE TAKEN OUT 



resolved to devote herself to this duty without 

 further delay. So the following night, instead of 

 returning at early dawn, she hurried back in the 

 small hours and surprised the culprits, not, as 

 she expected, in the midst of their games, but 

 nibbling the grass of the green. At the sight 

 of their mother the guilty creatures scurried to 

 their forms, only to bound out at her summons 

 and follow frisking at her heels as she led past 

 the spring to the hill. She breasted the slope at 

 a slow canter, but soon quickened her steps. 

 Half-way up she began doubling, the leverets 

 imitating her twists and turns in a surprising 

 way and with astonishing exactness. Towards 

 daybreak, however, they flagged, and by the 

 time they got back to the green they were 

 so tired that they were content to remain in 

 the form till the hour for exercise came round 

 again. 



The hare returned nightly at almost the same 

 moment, and went farther and farther afield as 

 their strength grew, without encountering even 

 in these extended excursions any enemy more 

 formidable than an old badger, who never dreamt 

 of pursuit. It is true that he looked hard at 

 them, but only because of his surprise at seeing 

 survivors of a race which he thought extinct. 

 The instant he satisfied himself they really were 



