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..