at wary creature.
It is a better plan if any dead leaves are lying near to turn them over
and over with the end of a twig till they fall on the trap, that is if
they are dry: if wet (unless actually raining at the time), should one
chance to be left with the drier under surface uppermost, the rat may
pause on the brink. Now that the remotest chance of leaving a scent was
avoided the wire became a deadly instrument. Almost every morning two or
three rabbits were taken: we set up a dozen snares when we had mastered
the trick. They were found lying at full length in the crisp white
grass, for we often rose to visit the wires while yet the stars were
visible. Thus extended a person might have passed within a few yards and
never noticed them, unless he had an out-of-doors eye; for the whiter
fur of the belly as they lay aside was barely distinguishable from the
hoar frost. The blacksmith Ikey sauntered down the lane every evening,
and glanced casually behind the ash tree--the northern side of whose
trunk was clothed with dark green velvet-like moss--to see if a bag was
lying for him there among the nettles in the ditch. The rabbits were put
in the bag, which was pushed through the hedge.

CHAPTER III

TREE-SHOOTING: A FISHING EXPEDITION

Just on the verge and borderland of the territory that could be ranged
in safety there grew a stunted oak in a mound beside the brook. Perhaps
the roots had been checked by the water; for the tree, instead of
increasing in bulk, had expended its vigour in branches so crooked that
they appeared entangled in each other. This oak was a favourite
perching-place, because of its position: it could also be more easily
climbed than straight-grown timber, having many boughs low down the
trunk. With a gun it is difficult to ascend a smooth tree; these boughs
therefore were a great advantage.

One warm afternoon late in the summer I got up into this oak; and took a
seat astride a large limb, with the main trunk behind like the back of a
chair and about twenty feet above the mound. Some lesser branches
afforded a fork on which the gun could be securely lodged, and a limb of
considerable size came across in front. Leaning both arms on this, a
view could be obtained below and on three sides easily and without
effort.

The mound immediately beneath was grown over with thick blackthorn, a
species of cover that gives great confidence to game. A kick or blow
upon the bushes with a stick wi