But before any of these more formidable wonders arrived he heard a sound of rushing--of eager, desperate flight.

Then a rabbit came into view--he felt sure it was one of the two who appeared at the beginning of his watch.

The poor beast was plainly in an ecstasy of terror, running violently, but as it were aimlessly, and every now and then stopping short, all of a-tremble, as if despair were robbing it of its powers.

It ran straight past the poplar sapling, swerved off to the right, and disappeared; but the Child could hear the sound of its going and perceived that it was making a circle.

A couple of seconds later came the weasel, running with its nose in the air, as if catching the scent from the air rather than from the fugitive's tracks.
The weasel did not seem to be in any hurry at all.