26 IN FLIGHT 



heap of stones they stopped and Hstened with 

 ears a-cock, and there again came that ** patter, 

 patter, patter," very faint at first but rapidly 

 growing more and more distinct. Whoever 

 the pursuer, he was coming along at a rapid 

 pace. The rhythm of the footfall fascinated 

 the hares. They stood with eyes fixed on the 

 track to get a view the moment the creature 

 showed. But all at once the noise ceased, to 

 the obvious disquiet of the hare. She snuffled 

 and snorted as when in the presence of the 

 weasel, and set off again at a swinging pace 

 with the leverets, now thoroughly alarmed, 

 obedient to her every movement. Suddenly 

 she bounded from the path to the selvedge of 

 turf. On landing she leapt again and again. 

 The leverets followed as if tied to her, leaping 

 nearly as far as she did, for already they could 

 cover nine feet in a spring. Then they sped 

 over croft and field till, quite a mile from the 

 track, they came to a level waste with the 

 pool in its midst. She was about to lead them 

 into the water when she noticed the jack on 

 his hind legs surveying the moor. Stung by 

 this reminder of her negligence, she leapt to the 

 bank and looked in the direction of the trail. She 

 looked long, but saw no sign of the pursuer, 

 and then, completely satisfied that all was well, 



