Ferreting. 201 



got back to my stand than I heard Little John leap 

 into the ditch his side : the next minute I saw the 

 body of the rabbit which he had killed thrown out 

 into the field. 



I stood behind a somewhat advanced bush that 

 came out into the meadow like a buttress, and kept 

 an eye on the holes along the bank. It is essential to 

 stand well back from the holes and, if possible, out of 

 sight. In a few moments something moved, and I 

 saw the head of a rabbit at the mouth of a hole just 

 behind the net. He looked through the meshes as 

 through a lattice, and I could see his nostrils work, as 

 he considered within himself how to pass this thing. 

 It was but for a moment ; the ferret came behind, 

 and wild with hereditary fear, the rabbit leaped into 

 the net. 



The force of the spring not only drew the net 

 together, but dragged out the peg, and rabbit and net 

 inextricably entangled rolled down the bank to the 

 bottom of the ditch. I jumped into the ditch and 

 seized the net ; when there came a hoarse whisper : 

 ' Look sharp you, measter : put up another net fust 

 Jic can't get out ; hould un under your arm, or in your 

 teeth' 



I looked up, and saw Little John's face peering 

 over the mound. He had thrust himself up under 



