Raggylug: 



the stranger, and up he jumped only to find him- 

 self between Rag and the dog and heir to all 

 the peril of the chase. 



On came the hound baying hotly on the 

 straight-away scent. The buck's weight and 

 size were great advantages in a rabbit fight, but 

 now they were fatal. He did not know many 

 tricks. Just the simple ones like 'double,' 

 ' wind,' and ' hole-up,' that every baby Bunny 

 knows. But the chase was too close for doub- 

 ling and winding, and he didn't know where 

 the holes were. 



It was a straight race. The brier-rose, kind 

 to all rabbits alike, did its best, but it was no 

 use. The baying of the hound was fast and 

 steady. The crashing of the brush and the 

 yelping of the hound each time the briers tore 

 his tender ears were borne to the two rabbits 

 where they crouched in hiding. But suddenly 

 these sounds stopped, there was a scuffle, then 

 loud and terrible screaming. 



Rag knew what it meant and it sent a shiver 

 through him, but he soon forgot that when all 

 was over and rejoiced to be once more the 

 master of the dear old Swamp. 



133 



