HE TURNS SULKY 33 



waters from the Longships, and near midnight 

 the faint sweep of muffled oars told where the 

 Preventive Patrol crossed the bay. The unusual 

 noise caused the hares to cease their scamperings 

 and look seaward. Yet danger was not there 

 but at the foot of the dunes, where a half-wild 

 cat crouched near the path by which they came 

 and eagerly awaited their return. All unconscious 

 of her presence the hares left the beach to play 

 on the rocks at Genvor Head, now uncovered 

 by the tide ; there the jack, prompted by the 

 adventurous spirit that was ever urging him to 

 do ''something grand," made along the ledge 

 towards the point over which the sea was dashing 

 dangerously. Luckily his mother observed him 

 and drove him back, despite the efforts he made 

 to get past her. So he turned sulky and 

 lagged behind her and his sister when presently 

 they crossed the dunes for the feeding-ground. 

 The cat, who had been a close observer of 

 the scene on the rocks, and was not a little 

 chagrined when two of the hares passed wide 

 of her station, now fixed her attention on the 

 jack, as his slow movements made her think 

 he was wounded and might fall an easy prey. 

 But again she was doomed to disappointment ; 

 for while she debated whether to rush at 

 the leveret or stay where she was, the jack 



