176 THE HARE DISCOVERED 



trail, have leapt aside and made off inland ; 

 the next instant she sprang over the backs of 

 the stoats surrounding her, to return to the 

 extreme point. That was the spot from which 

 she conjectured he would make his leap, and 

 on reaching it she searched the ground near it 

 for traces of his scent. Nose to ground she 

 tried rocks, fern, cushions of sea-pinks, even 

 the heather covering the highest part of the 

 headland, before going back to a spot near 

 the point where she happened to be on a level 

 with the shelf 



At that moment the moon lit up the scene, 

 silvering the sea, revealing the narrow track and 

 the pack clustered there with heads directed to 

 their leader. Her attitude tells them something 

 has excited her curiosity. Her eyes are scrutinis- 

 ing the strange object on the ledge, and though it 

 lies completely shadowed by another ledge above, 

 she presently recognises the hare, and in some 

 way communicates her discovery to her followers. 



Thereupon they strive to reach the shelf, 

 some by the overhanging wall, the rest by leap- 

 ing ; but all their efforts are in vain. 



Meanwhile the leader has succeeded in gain- 

 ing the higher ledge, from which by craning 

 her neck she is able to see the hare beneath, 

 who indeed is within a few feet of her. 



