THE TUNNEL RUNNERS 205 



nut-brown back sprinkled with black 

 hairs, shading downwards through warm 

 grey to a delicate fawn-coloured belly. Its 

 shoulders and short fore-legs were heavily 

 moulded, showing the digger of tunnels, and 

 its fore-paws moved with the swift precise 

 facility of hands. The tiny ears were set 

 flat and tight to the head, and the broad- 

 based skull over the triangular muzzle gave 

 an impression of pugnacious courage, very 

 unlike that of the wood-mouse or the house- 

 mouse. This expression was more than 

 justified by the fact, for the marsh-mouse, 

 confident in his punishing little jaws and 

 distrustful of his agility, had a dangerous 

 propensity to stay and fight when he ought 

 to be running away. It was a propensity 

 which, owing to the abundance of his enemies, 

 would have led speedily to the exter- 

 mination of his race but for the amazing and 

 unremitting fecundity which dwelt hi his blood. 

 For all his courage, however, there were 

 some foes which he had no inclination to 

 meet and face even he, one of the biggest 

 and strongest of his kind. As he glanced 

 aside from his nosing in the samphire tufts, 

 he caught sight of a broad black splotch of 

 shadow sweeping up the baked surface of 

 the flat at terrific speed. 



