158 FOUB-FOOTED AMERICANS 



" Here came the Rabbit, but much earlier than the 

 Fox, for his prints are crusted ; now they run to- 

 gether." 



" Was the Fox chasing the Rabbit ? I should think 

 Bunny could run the fastest," said Rap. 



" No, not chasing, but following him by scent. See I 

 here the Rabbit has stopped to nibble twigs and buds. 

 Ah! now we have the battlefield : the Rabbit nestled 

 in the snow, the Fox came here and crouched, waiting 

 for Bunny to move before springing. The end was 

 beyond in the open." 



The l>o,y.s looked and saw where the snow was beat'en 

 down and covered with little tufts of fur, and from 

 there were no more Rabbit tracks, only a single trail 

 leading l)aik toward the den, brightened here and there 

 by blood marks. 



•■ The Fox family had a .good breakfast, anyway," 

 said Nat, cheerfully. " How I wish I could have peeped 

 into tlieir house. Can we ? " 



" I think we must hurry, back ; they will be cold, 

 waiting in the sleigh." 



Soon the road met and followed the river and was 

 quite shut in on the north by hemlock woods. 



"There is a very big mark, — a Wdndchnck track," 

 said Nat, pointing to a broad trail that came close to 

 the road and went toward the wood again. '■ I didn't 

 know they lived in such wild places." 



" It can't be a Woodcliuck, they hole up before it 

 gets as cold as tliis, 3'ou know," said Rap. 



" Hole up ; no, I don't know. What do you mean ? " 



"Why, they don't like cold, and go into their holes 

 and stay there until spring." 



