A HERMIT'S WILD FRIENDS 



old road as if he were racing for life. He 

 passed me without turning his head, and was 

 out of sight around a turn in the path before 

 I had recovered from my surprise. While 

 I was looking, he came back, jumping high 

 and long; after he had got by the turn, and 

 nearly to my feet, he gave a great jump side- 

 waj^s, and landed in a clump of weeds. Just 

 then a stoat came in sight on the rabbit's 

 trail. His leaps were not expended in the 

 air, but were swift, long, and near the ground. 

 It was evident that the poor rabbit had no 

 chance to escape from such a supple, blood- 

 thirsty foe without help. When the stoat was 

 out of sight, the rabbit again took to the 

 road. He passed me, then turned into the 

 woods. Whether he knew it or not, it was 

 the best thing to do. It left the hermit to 

 face his relentless foe. Perhaps the birds had 

 told the rabbit that the hermit was a friend. 

 The stoat came back, hunting both sides of 

 the road. He understood just how he had 

 been tricked. When he found the trail in the 

 weeds, he circled around until satisfied that the 



