LET US GO AFIELD 



all. I believe this is the experience of most big- 

 game hunters. 



I ought, in my own case, to note two exceptions. 

 Twice during my life I have been frightened into 

 shivers. The first time was when I was young. It 

 was a Girl that did it. She had long chestnut hair, 

 and very white teeth, and very large eyes, and very 

 small front feet. My knees shook every time I saw 

 that creature coming. I used to walk around the 

 block to dodge her, then come around behind on 

 the other side, planning what I would say when I 

 met her face to face. I never did say it. She is 

 married now, though not to me. 



The other animal that scared me was a rabbit. 

 I had taken down the family shotgun from the 

 armorial bearings in the old wainscoted hall, and 

 was projecting around a hazel-brush patch 

 wrapped in thought, I don't doubt, about the Girl. 

 All at once, as I chanced to look up, I saw, sitting 

 at the edge of the brush, about five feet from me, 

 crouched in the attitude of attack, with staring eyes 

 looking straight into mine precisely like those of the 

 lynx in the magazine, this ferocious creature with 

 its ears laid back tight to its head and every muscle 

 of its tense form strained as though about to spring. 

 It did spring, too, although it did not land on me. 

 My father said the thing was scared until it was 



208 



