168 TAKES TO THE POOL 



reed-bed, plunged in, floundered through the 

 shallows, and on getting beyond his depth, 

 struck out for the opposite shore. 



Ice still covered most of the surface, but follow- 

 ing an open channel he got more than half-way 

 across before he found himself confronted by 

 a sheet which, thin and rotten though it was, 

 arrested his progress. 



He tried to clamber on to it but the brittle 

 edge broke under his pads. His position was 

 most critical. To make matters worse, the cry 

 of his pursuers now sounded very distinct ; they 

 were evidently close to the pool. What if they 

 took to the water and met him as he swam ? 

 For he must go back or drown. In the 

 dilemma he turned and struck out for the 

 shore he had left. He seemed to be swimming 

 into the jaws of death. Soon however fortune 

 befriended him. For as he swam he saw at 

 one side a narrow strait just wide enough to 

 admit him, and into it he turned as the pack 

 took to the water, swimming swiftly and with 

 heads held high. They must have viewed the 

 hare had not the moon been completely ob- 

 scured by a black cloud, which completely shut 

 off the pallid beams that for a brief space had 

 lit the moor. 



Soon they passed the narrow opening and 



