CH. VII.] A Deep Dig in the Sand. 121 



there is a sound like very distant thunder, 

 and the line is pulled quickly four yards 

 further into the hole, and the marks show 

 six yards are in. I go about this distance 

 out into the field, lie down and place my ear 

 close to the ground. I shift about in all 

 directions listening intently, and at last hear 

 a faint thudding sound. I shift again a few 

 inches in this direction, and lose it ; in that, 

 and recover it ; again a few inches, and the 

 sound is directly under my head, but pretty 

 deep down. I take the big spade and open 

 out a hole a yard square, and dig down as 

 far as I can reach. I get into the hole and 

 sink deeper. I have to enlarge it a foot all 

 round to get room, and then I dig down 

 again till only my head appears above 

 ground when I stand up. Then I take the 

 long spade, and with that sink two more feet, 

 and plump I come on the top of the hole, 

 and the ferret shoves a sand- covered head 



