THE RED COW 



made another of those near-hits. Next day we were 

 driving past the place where I had shot at him and 

 one of the boys was carrying the rifle. Suddenly, I 

 spied Mr. Rabbit among some tall gi"ass under the 

 roadside fence. Grabbing the gun I took careful 

 aim and fired once more. He seemed to be badly 

 frightened, but that was all, and this time there 

 was enough fur where he had been sitting to stuff 

 two pin-cushions. I couldn't have been more than 

 a rod from him this time and it hardly seems possible 

 that if he were a normal rabbit that I shouldn't have 

 hit him fair and square. However, he hasn't been 

 seen since and it is just possible that he decided 

 that things were getting a little too hot for him. If 

 he appears again I think I shall have to try him 

 with a silver bullet for that is said to be the only 

 thing that will kill a demon of this kind. But per- 

 haps, instead of using the silver to shoot with I 

 should offer a quarter to a boy who is a better shot 

 than I am to get him for me. Anyway, I have no 

 need to fear the game wardens about this rabbit for 

 I did no more to him than the Western desperado 

 did to the Tenderfoot. I just shot him through the 

 thin places around the edges. And yet — and yet — 

 it is just possible that it was not my bullets that 



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