RABBIT-CATCHERS' CRAFT 171 



than a few score yards. Should the rabbit run past 

 him, its course unchecked by his frantic yells and 

 flourishes, he troubles himself no further, and saves 

 his breath. 



It is when the binder is going on its last few rounds 

 and only a small patch of corn is left standing in the 

 middle of the field that excitement reaches its height. 

 Hitherto no one has been allowed to enter the stand- 

 ing corn ; but now all sense of decency and restric- 

 tion is thrown to the winds, and the end is simply a 

 mad scramble for the rabbits that lurk to the last 

 moment. Sharp eyes have followed the movements 

 of the rabbits by the slight swaying to and fro of the 

 ears of the corn ; but now the corn is alive with 

 rabbits, and among them are hurled the frenzied 

 bodies of men, women, and children, who hit wildly 

 and blindly with their sticks. Sticks and stones rain 

 on rabbits, corn, and men. And on the edge of the 

 fray stands the quiet figure of the man who will not 

 exert himself, who watches for the few rabbits who 

 come alive from the corn. One other quiet and calm 

 figure is in the heart of the turmoil the gamekeeper, 

 who bestirs himself only in the interests of game. 

 With ever-watchful eye and warning voice he sternly 

 represses those who, overcome by the lust of killing, 

 would recklessly slaughter, besides rabbits, the young 

 pheasants or the crouching leverets. Great is the 

 relief of the keeper when the last corn is cut and the 

 harvest festival of the countryman is over for the 

 year. 



