62 THE TRAIL RECOVERED 



when the wind was northerly ; but in the end 

 he set his face for the form by the pool, and to 

 this direction he kept. The polecats, maddened 

 by the delay, had been displaying a feverish 

 energy in their attempt to discover the true 

 line. Each worked independently of the other, 

 and not a kitten looked to the mother for 

 guidance. Theirs was indeed a difficult task : 

 no pack of harriers would have accomplished it 

 without aid of man ; yet the wildlings, with a 

 persistence that would not be denied, after two 

 hours' search succeeded in recovering the line 

 by which the leveret had left the field. 



Strangely enough the discovery was made by 

 the smallest of the litter, who, after raising the 

 cry of " found," sat on his haunches and gazed 

 about him, as if he expected to view the game. 

 He continued to sit even after his mother had 

 taken up the trail, but presently fell into his 

 place at the end of the long file and joined in 

 the full-tongued chorus. Increased speed now 

 marked the pursuit. The pack was running 

 for blood, and running as they knew against 

 times, for night was yielding to the grey dawn. 

 Already the cocks were crowing, and soon a 

 farm boy was heard calling the cows. At other 

 times the polecats would have stopped, perhaps 

 slunk away to cover ; now they gave no heed, 



