142 Hillside. 



side to side in apparent terror and madness. Astonishment 

 holds me for a moment, and then I at once take in the situa- 

 tion. Certainly I had promised not to spoil sport, but this 

 is abominable. A rush forward, and I am sprawling on my 

 face, while my ankle gives me intense pain; I am caught in 

 one of the snares set for the rabbits. To free myself is the 

 work of a moment, and I am soon at the rabbit's side. 



FIG. 29. THE COMMON MOLK ('lalpa eurupaa). 



Holding it down with one hand, I rapidly unloose the wire 

 girdle surrounding its abdomen, and set it free, when it 

 promptly disappears ; but I soon discover that my ankle is 

 rather more painful than I had supposed, and, limping to the 

 shade of the chestnuts, I lie down. 



As we lie at ease resting ourselves, little mounds of newly 

 turned-up earth, which we recognise as molehills, inform us 



