THE WINTER WOODS 169 



taste of Rabbit shooting, and soon these three, accom- 

 panied by Stubble, wlio was an all-round hunting dog, 

 started down liill, Nat liolding the little shot-gun in 

 hands that trembled with excitement, being very care- 

 ful that it was not pointing at any one, even though 

 it was not jet loaded. 



Tlie afternoon wore away. The toboggan was decked 

 with a picture of a large owl, which the youngest boy, 

 Dominique, insisted should have a red ribbon painted 

 about its neck, though his brother Phonse said owls 

 never wore such things. 



Once in a while they heard a shot, but it was very 

 still otherwise, with no signs of animal life save the 

 pranks of a pair of half-tame Gray Squirrels who came 

 and went in their search for hidden food. The moon 

 shone silver white before the sun had set, and the two 

 exchanged greetings wliile they struggled with some 

 clouds that promised more snow or possibly wind and 

 rain. Presently by this mixed light they saw Nat com- 

 ing up the slope empty handed and hurrying ahead of 

 the others. 



"Didn't you get anything?" called Rap. "Didn't 

 you shoot a Rabbit ? Where is your gun ? " 



" No, I didn't ; but I nearly got one. It didn't see 

 us a bit and was sitting up nibbling and I aimed as nice 

 as could be, — just as Uncle Roy told me, with the gun 

 against my shoulder and everything quite right, — when 

 the Rabbit turned round and stared at me, and some- 

 how it was so cunning and comfortable and seemed to 

 trust me, that I didn't like to kill it. While I was 

 thinking, it gave a couple of leaps and was gone ! 

 Then I felt dreadfully foolish ! " 



