158 GRIMALKIN THE CAT 
an excursion along the edge of the wood. Just in 
front of him a deep drain, cut straight through 
the hedgebank, opened into the field. This cutting 
was a favourite path of all the Fur Folk, and its 
muddy bottom was trampled by many feet, from 
the splay pugs of the badger to the fairy spoors of 
the rats. It was for the latter that Grimalkin 
waited, under a fern stub. Famine had gripped 
the rats with the rest of the Wood People, and 
drove them out to feed on the rotting beech-mast 
far from their holes. The blackbirds were arguing 
together loudly as they settled down in the laurels 
for the night ; nevertheless through all the din 
Grimalkin detected a distant scurry and patter of 
feet. His practised ear soon recognised that the 
oncoming steps belonged to a running rabbit, and 
just behind he caught the galloping rustle of some 
pursuer. Grimalkin the cat feared neither fox 
nor dog, and he knew that the smaller folk all 
feared him and turned aside from his path ; so that, 
with a glance to locate a convenient tree in case 
of emergency, he remained where he was. The 
bushes suddenly parted and out sprang the Collared 
Buck. His ears were laid down and his eyes 
showed the whites as he glanced behind him. He 
came straight as an arrow for the drain ; not 
until he was almost upon it did he catch sight of 
