Vix found the old drain at the beginning of March. 
It was warm and roomy, and ran under the gate 
of the Plantation Field. Once upon a time, before 
the reservoir was built further up the hill, the 
stream which rose under St. Bridget's Tower had 
emptied itself through this drain into the bog ; 
but that was many years ago, and now the moss 
and ferns grew thickly round the opening, and the 
grating at the further end was choked with rubbish. 
Nevertheless, because it was dry and lonely it suited 
Vix exactly, and the four cubs were born there 
towards the end of the month. They were blind, 
red, squealing creatures who groped and fought in 
the hot darkness to reach Vix and nuzzle at her 
side, and at first she spent most of the twenty- 
four hours among them ; but as they grew bigger 
