Ferreting 209 



placed in the bag. But Little John gave him a drink 

 of water first from the bottom of the ditch. 



Orion and I, wearied with the digging, now insisted 

 on removing to the next bury, for we felt sure that the 

 remaining rabbits in this one would not bolt. Little 

 John had no choice but to comply, but he did so with 

 much reluctance and many rueful glances back at the 

 holes from which he took the nets. He was sure, 

 he said, that there were at least half-a-dozen still in 

 the bury : he only wished he might have all that he 

 could get out of it. But we imperiously ordered a 

 removaK 



We went some thirty yards down the mound, 

 passing many smaller buries, and chose a spot per- 

 fectly drilled with holes. While Little John was in 

 the ditch putting up nets, we slily undid the ferret 

 bag and turned three ferrets at once loose into the 

 holes. * Lor ! measter, measter, what be you at ? ' cried 

 Little John, quite beside himself. ' You'll spoil all 

 on it. Lor ! ' 



A sharp report as Orion fired at a rabbit that 

 bolted almost under Little John's fingers drowned his 

 remonstrances, and he had to scramble out of the way 

 quick. Bang ! bang ! right and left : the firing became 

 rapid. There being no nets to alarm the rabbits and 

 three ferrets hunting them, they tumbled out in all 



P 



