Raggylug 



purpose was to kill Rag, whose escape seemed 

 hopeless. There was no other swamp he could 

 go to, and whenever he took a nap now he 

 had to be ready at any moment to dash for his 

 life. A dozen times a day the big stranger came 

 creeping up to where he slept, but each time 

 the watchful Rag awoke in time to escape. To 

 escape yet not to escape. He saved his life in- 

 deed, but oh ! what a miserable life it had be- 

 come. How maddening to be thus helpless, 

 to see his little mother daily beaten and torn, 

 as well as to see all his favorite feeding-grounds, 

 the cosy nooks, and the pathways he had made 

 with so much labor, forced from him by this 

 hateful brute. Unhappy Rag realized that to 

 the victor belong the spoils, and he hated him 

 more than ever he did fox or ferret. 



How was it to end ? He was wearing out 

 with running and watching and bad food, and 

 little Molly's strength and spirit were breaking 

 down under the long persecution. The stranger 

 was ready to go to all lengths to destroy poor 

 Rag, and at last stooped to the worst crime 

 known among rabbits. However much they 

 may hate each other, all good rabbits forget 



131 



