PURSUIT RENEWED 173 



the place and began the ascent, thus leaving the 

 hare to the mercy of the stoats. 



Before the smuggler had climbed four feet 

 the hare realised his danger. At once he fled 

 along the edge of the cliff, the stoats, who had 

 already begun to creep towards him, in hot 

 pursuit. 



Whilst he was free from the numbing sensa- 

 tion of fear, which had subsided in the friendly 

 presence of man, his relentless persecutors even 

 at their utmost speed seemed almost motionless 

 behind him, but the moment it returned, cramp- 

 ing his powers, he lost ground. 



Then he began to look anxiously about 

 him to find a refuge, as in that lay now his only 

 hope of escape. 



The sea from half a score caverns bellowed 

 its invitation, but he heeded it not. Only in 

 the last resort would he cast himself over 

 the cliff, so in weariness and fear he struggled 

 on with the terrorising cry of the pack ever in 

 his ears. 



Before him lay a small and oddly shaped 

 headland, so narrow at its base that any animal 

 seeking the coast beyond was certain to cross 

 the neck and avoid going round. 



Not so the hare. As if fearful of losing 

 touch of the cliff, he took no notice of the short 



