170 A GAMEKEEPER'S NOTE-BOOK 



he loses his senses also ; but it is surprising with what 

 perseverance he will run when he can see a haven of 

 safety ahead. 



* * 



The man of experience, who knows his rabbits, does 

 not unduly exert himself. Taking things calmly, 



he may catch more rabbits than others who 

 Rabbit- ^ are better runners but more excitable. He 

 Craft * knows that the great thing is to stand still, 



rather waiting for the rabbits to come to him 

 than going after them. As a binder works round a 

 field, he moves quietly in the opposite way ; then, 

 catching sight of a rabbit crouching beneath a piece 

 of knapweed, some tangled bindweed, or a thistle, 

 his upraised stick falls with certain aim, and instantly 

 he puts into force the rustic law of possession. Or, 

 moving quietly along, he will hold in his right hand 

 a heavy stone, while several others are held in the 

 other hand behind his back ; when he sees a rabbit 

 far within the corn, his stones fly with crushing force, 

 and the rabbit's day is done. Sometimes towards the 

 finish of the cutting he will take up his position far 

 from the frenzied throng around the binder, at some 

 quiet spot at the edge of the haven wood ; here, 

 watching the rabbits that have escaped the sticks 

 and stones of the main body, he tries to turn them 

 as they run the last few yards of their course. If he 

 succeeds, the rabbit, already worn by a long run, 

 makes a last desperate spurt, but can go no more 



