112 Raggylug 



their legs ready for a jump. Molly darted out 

 into the blinding storm. The fox missed his 

 spring, but followed like a racer, while Rag 

 dashed off to one side. 



There was only one road for Molly ; that was 

 straight up the wind, and bounding for her life 

 she gained a little over the unfrozen mud that 

 would not carry the fox, till she reached the 

 margin of the pond. No chance to turn now, 

 on she must go. 



Splash ! splash ! through the weeds she went, 

 then plunge into the deep water. 



And plunge went the fox close behind. But 

 it was too much for Reynard on such a night. 

 He turned back, and Molly, seeing only one 

 course, struggled through the reeds into the 

 deep water and struck out for the other shore. 

 But there was a strong headwind. The little 

 waves, icy cold, broke over her head as she 

 swam, and the water was full of snow that 

 blocked her way like soft ice, or floating mud. 

 The dark line of the other shore seemed far, 

 far away, with perhaps the fox waiting for her 

 there. 



But she laid her ears flat to be out of the 

 gale, and bravely put forth all her strength 

 with wind and tide against her. After a long, 

 weary swim in the cold water, she had nearly 



