Ferreting. 195 



CHAPTER XI. 



FERRETING: A RABBIT-HUNTER. 



THE ferreting season commences when the frosts 

 have caused the leaves to drop, and the rabbits grow 

 fat from feeding on bark. Early one December 

 morning, Orion and I started, with our man Little 

 John, to ferret a double-mound for our old friend 

 Farmer ' Willum ' at Redcote. 



Little John was a labourer one of those fre- 

 quently working at odd times for Luke, the Rabbit- 

 Contractor. We had nicknamed him Little John 

 because of his great size and unwieldy proportions. 

 He was the most useful man we knew for such work ; 

 his heart was so thoroughly in it. 



He was waiting for us before we had finished 

 breakfast, with his tools and implements, having 

 carefully prepared these while yet it was dark at home 

 in his cottage. The nets require looking to before 

 starting, as they are apt to get into a tangle, and there 



o 2 



