THE LURCHER 109 



himself to sleep. Instead he withdrew to the 

 little grassy space behind the furze, where he 

 kept walking up and down under the eyes of the 

 hare, like a wild beast in a cage. *' Strange 

 behaviour this," thought the hare. '^ There's 

 something very wrong with Grey Fox this morn- 

 ing. See how his flanks heave ! what a mist 

 his breath makes ! " Presently the gaunt creature 

 ceased pacing and lay down at full length, but 

 after a few seconds he got up again and went 

 back to the furze. 



There he again watches the plain, where a 

 speck scarcely discernible grows larger and larger, 

 and tells him that the lurcher has recovered 

 the trail she had temporarily lost, the trail he 

 himself had left, and that the lifelong feud Is 

 on the point of settlement, for Grey Fox has 

 made up his mind to have it out with his enemy. 

 By this time the hare too has seen the dog, 

 and whilst following her progress in the furze, 

 wonders that the fox does not retreat whilst 

 there is time. So excited does he become that 

 he fain would warn the fox, but dares not ; 

 though more than once he is on the point of 

 stamping his feet, he refrains. Meanwhile, the 

 lurcher shows on the boundary wall, on which 

 she stands and surveys the face of the hill. Her 

 breath too comes quick, like jets of steam. She 



