FLUFF-BUTTON THE RABBIT 93 
retraced his steps. Now there were two ways 
which he might have taken, but as luck would have 
it, he chose the wrong one, and blundered up the 
gallery towards Brownie's nursery. It was shaped 
like a bottle with a long winding neck, and in the 
narrowest part he met Brownie. 
As a rule a doe rabbit is the gentlest of wild 
things ; but motherhood will nerve the most timid, 
and Brownie's whiskers twitched as she faced the 
foe who was stealing towards her in the darkness. 
The rat cried out, and was answered by three or 
four of his comrades, who crowded after him. They 
were hungry, and very fierce, for they had already 
tasted blood and knew that a meal awaited them 
if they could win it. 
In mortal terror Brownie struck out right and 
left with her teeth, and sundry squeaks told her that 
her snaps had taken effect. Two rats clung to her 
on either side, but hampered as she was, she kept 
the rest at bay, for while she struggled they could 
not press past her into the nest. 
Just now the rabbits were in desperate straits. 
Two of the weaklier youngsters had been killed, 
and many more were badly bitten. Gradually the 
rats were driving them out as wolves drive sheep. 
All alone in the distant nesting burrow, Brownie 
faced her assailants and held her body as a living 
