ON THE ISLAND 93 



himself Into the hissing water, striking the spray 

 from the surface. When he rose he struck 

 out for his goal. He was hardly visible even 

 on the crests of the waves ; he was completely 

 lost to sight when they broke over him ; but 

 he drew nearer and nearer to the islet, and after 

 a terrible struggle at last landed at the otters' 

 creek. 



Great as was the hare's distress, the love of 

 life was greater. Even in his extremity he was 

 careful not to betray himself by any sudden 

 movement to his pursuer, now at the side of the 

 pool. For fear of detection, he stole from the 

 water at a snail's pace and, so slowly that no eye 

 on the shore would have been aware of any 

 movement, sank down on the sodden fern. There 

 he lay hour after hour whilst his persistent enemy 

 circled the pool and ransacked the waste in search 

 of him. 



It seemed as if she could not wrench her- 

 self away. Once, indeed, she withdrew ; but 

 when near the turf-stack she suddenly turned and 

 came back, though the gale raged more furiously 

 than ever. On reaching the pool, she entered the 

 water and stood staring at the islet. The hare 

 observed her with feverish anxiety ; he knew 

 that his fate hung by a thread, and scarcely 

 breathed. To the dog the spray-washed rock 



