A TIMELY INTERVENTION C5 



was the tiny fellow who had recovered the line 

 on High Down. Twice he approached the edge 

 of the pool as if he intended to swim to the other 

 side, but withdrew, made along the bank, crossed 

 at the inflow and at once began questing amongst 

 the rushes. Nearer and nearer he came to the 

 helpless prey, was indeed close on it when the 

 magpie, returning to the thorn by the withies, 

 espied him and forthwith set up the most 

 irritating and persistent chatter. The polecat 

 was greatly disconcerted by the mobbing of the 

 bird, and presently, unable to endure the insults 

 longer, leapt at it where it fluttered just beyond 

 his reach. Maddened by failure he kept on 

 springing at the black-and-white pest till he came 

 to the hatch, up which he climbed to the cross- 

 piece and, careless of both hare and bird, sat 

 there listening to the miller, who was now 

 abroad. 



The footfall of the miller and the noise he 

 made in pulling the faggots out of the furze-rick 

 caused the polecat little disquietude ; but the 

 moment Zekiah began whistling " Pop goes the 

 Weasel," he leapt to the sward and bounded after 

 his mother, already in full retreat with the rest 

 of the litter, towards a deserted quarry where she 

 had decided to pass the rest of the day. 



