FLUFF-BUTTON THE RABBIT 83 
spring chirp of an oxeye. Under the trees the scent 
was stronger but strangely irregular, as though a 
second and feebler trail were mingled with the first. 
Cuni followed it into the gravel pit, expecting a 
signal, but none came. She slid down a heap of 
tinkling shale, and her nose led her to the old cart 
road on the other side, where the grass was tender 
and beloved by the rabbits. 
Cuni could guess well enough what had happened 
here, for the trails were like a double string of beads 
a narrow thread where the rabbits had hopped 
straight forward, and here and there an expansion 
where one or other had turned aside to graze. 
Suddenly Cuni turned a corner and came full 
upon Fluff-Button, who was sitting with his back 
turned to her ; while just in front of him stood 
Mutch. Fluff-Button was feeding in a nervous, 
jerky manner, and when presently Mutch crept 
up to him and touched him pleadingly, he only 
hopped away petulantly. 
Mutch, repulsed, sat up and looked round to 
see Cuni. Whether the sight awoke in her the old 
mother instinct of the woods to drive away a young 
one able to fend for itself, or whether it was simply 
jealousy, I cannot say, for the Spring Longing works 
strange changes in the beasts ; but, anyhow, she 
rushed straight at Cuni and ripped a tuft of fur 
