Raggylug 99 



tontails. It was nearly always Rag that they 

 ran, for the young buck enjoyed the runs as 

 much as they did, the spice of danger in them 

 being just enough for zest. He would say : 



•* Oh, mother ! here comes the dog again, I 

 must have a run to-day." 



" You are too bold, Raggy, my son I '* she 

 might reply. ** 1 fear you will run once too 

 often." 



" But, mother, it is such glorious fun to tease 

 that fool dog, and it's all good training. 1*11 

 thump if I am too hard pressed, then you can 

 come and change off while I get my second 

 wind." 



On he would come, and Ranger would take 

 the trail and follow till Rag got tired of it. 

 Then he either sent a thumping telegram for 

 help, which brought Molly to take charge of 

 the dog, or he got rid of the dog by some clever 

 trick. A description of one of these shows how 

 well Rag had learned the arts of the woods. 



He knew that his scent lay best near the 

 ground, and was strongest when he was warm. 

 So if he could get off the ground, and be left 

 in peace for half an hour to cool off, and for the 

 trail to stale, he knew he would be safe. When, 

 therefore, he tired of the chase, he made for 

 the Creekside brier-patch, where he 'wound' 



