THE RED COW 



one quick, yapping bark and gave chase. The rab- 

 bit had started towards a haystack at the other side 

 of the field, but when the dog took after him he 

 changed his mind and began to circle towards the 

 south. He looked like a streak of brown fur, and 

 about four rods behind him Sheppy looked like a 

 streak of black and white. Both stretched them- 

 selves out until their bellies seemed to touch the 

 ground, but my eye could not detect any change in 

 the distance between them. Neither seemed to gain 

 an inch. They kept it up for about thirty rods and 

 then Sheppy stumbled over a corn stubble and lost 

 a few feet. The race went on in absolute silence 

 until they reached the wire fence at the road. The 

 rabbit slipped through and Sheppy had to stop. He 

 ran around and barked with rage as his quarry 

 scooted up a neighbour's lane and disappeared among 

 some piles of rails. I then had time to examine 

 the cosy form where the rabbit had been resting. 

 After noting how nicely it was lined with grass I 

 ruthlessly kicked it to pieces, for rabbits are not to 

 be encouraged in a young orchard. I could not find 

 that he had done any damage, but I am not taking 

 any chances, and this afternoon I am going to take 

 the rifle and Sheppy and hunt through the orchard 



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