eir own garden, and then
across a big, sunny meadow. By the time they reached the meadow it was
growing very hot, and the children sauntered along under the shade of a
high hedge, and talked about the fight to be held on the following
Tuesday.

Drusie felt more hopeful than she had done before breakfast, and she
was perfectly sure that Hal would defend the fort. She was full of
plans for making the fight a better and more exciting one than any they
had yet had, and she was suggesting a scheme by which Tommy could act
both as scout and advanced outpost, when a strong, delicious scent from
the clover field was wafted towards them on the soft summer, breeze.

Jumbo smelt it, and lifting up his black nose gave one or two sniffs,
and then darting past them at a rate surprising in a rabbit of his age
made straight for the gap in the hedge; and, of course, after that
there was no more time for conversation, for where Jumbo went the other
rabbits followed. It was quite as much as the children could do to
keep them in sight, and when they scrambled through the gap five of the
six rabbits were sitting in a row contentedly munching away at the
juicy stalks and cool green leaves of the clover. But Jumbo would not
condescend to eat anything but pink, honey-filled flowers, and going
from plant to plant he sat up on his hind legs and bit off the stalk
just below the head.

"Jumbo _is_ a clever rabbit," said Helen admiringly; "the others don't
know the difference between the flowers and the leaves."

Then suddenly they all burst out laughing. For Jumbo, getting tired
perhaps of sitting up so much on his hind legs, tried to support
himself against a stalk while he nibbled at the flowers. But the stalk
gave way, and Jumbo fell heavily across Pepper's neck, who, indignant
at such a liberty, gave a squeak and darted away. Jumbo, trying hard
to look as though he had tumbled down on purpose, began to wash his
face and ears in a very diligent manner.

[Illustration: "_Jumbo began to wash his face and ears_"]

It was some time before the children thought of returning; but
presently Jim, who never cared to sit still for very long, said that
they might as well be going, and added that as the rabbits had been so
good they would give them an extra ramble, and take them home by the
lane that ran along the top of the hill.

But that, as Helen remarked, was saying one word for the rabbits and
two for himself; for the lane bordered the