184 MELTON AND HOMESPUN 



ages, are to be seen basking on the sandy heaps which 

 the rabbits have thrown up to the surface during their 

 tunnelhng operations. 



Chloe and Jet are now wide awake and have sighted 

 the rabbits, whose movements they watch closely and 

 eagerly. Both, however, will remember the ratings and 

 " rib-roastings " which, in puppyhood days, were meted 

 out to them for chasing hares and rabbits, and though 

 Chloe — whose blood is still young and hot — evinces 

 unmistakable signs of restlessness as a couple of half -grown 

 rabbits commence to dance a veritable " bunny-hug " 

 round a grassy mound, a gently spoken " 'Ware chase ! " 

 proves quite sufficient to drop her alongside the matronly- 

 looking and steady Jet, who has been shot over five 

 successive seasons. 



Hallo ! there is danger in the air, or the old buck 

 rabbit doing sentry-go on the warren bank would not 

 beat the earth wdth his hind legs as he is doing. Every 

 coney above ground disappears below the surface at the 

 signal, and a few moments later one of the largest stoats 

 that ever came under our observation appears on the 

 scene. After sniffing round the entrance of the main 

 bury he also darts below. 



Very few minutes elapse ere a dozen pairs of long 

 brown lugs and big brown eyes pop out from divers 

 and sundry holes. The stoat has disturbed the peace 

 of the colony by his unexpected and unwelcome visit, 

 and apparently half-scared out of their senses, rabbits, 

 both old and young, sit gazing helplessly towards the big 

 burrow. Strange though it may seem, never a bunny 

 attempts to take flight from the warren. 



A little cloud of dust suddenly rises from the mouth of 



