Over and over they go, bounding and bounc- 

 ing, snapping from their marvelous hind legs as 

 if shot from a spring-trap. It is the greatest 

 jumping exhibition that you will ever see. To 

 have such legs as these is the next best thing to 

 having wings. 



Right in the thick of the fun sounds a sharp 

 thump! thump! Every rabbit " freezes." It is 

 the stamp of an old buck, the call, Danger! 

 danger ! He has heard a twig break in the woods, 

 or has seen a soft, shadowy thing cross the moon. 



As motionless as stumps squat the rabbits, stiff 

 with the tenseness of every ready muscle. They 

 listen. But it was only a dropping nut or a rest- 

 less bird ; and the play continues. 



They are chasing each other over the grass in 

 a game of tag. There go two, round and round, 

 tagging and re-tagging, first one being "it" and 

 then the other. Their circle widens all the time 

 and draws nearer to the woods. This time round 

 they will touch the bush behind which we are 

 watching. Here they come there they go ; 

 they will leap the log yonder. Flash ! squeak ! 

 scurry ! Not a rabbit in the field ! Yes ; one 

 rabbit the limp, lifeless one hanging over the 

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