[Dick o’ the Fens by George Manville Fenn]@TWC D-Link bookDick o’ the Fens CHAPTER ELEVEN 6/25
I thowt yow wanted to see me ketch a hare." "Go on, then," said Dick, laughing; "we won't move." Dave chuckled, swung his basket behind him as if hung by a strip of cow-hide over his shoulder, and walked quietly on, in and out among the tufts of heather and moss, for some five-and-twenty yards. "He's laughing at us," said Dick. "No, he isn't.
I've heard Hickathrift say he can catch hares," replied Tom.
"Look!" For just then they saw Dave go straight up to a tuft of dry grass, stoop down and pick up a hare by its ears, and place it on his left arm. The boys ran up excitedly. "Why, Dave, I didn't think you could do it!" cried Dick. "Dessay not," replied the decoy-man, uttering his unpleasant laugh. "Theer, she's a beauty, isn't she ?" The hare struggled for a moment or two, and then crouched down in the man's arm, with its heart throbbing and great eyes staring round at its captors. "Kill it, Dave, kill it," cried Tom. "Kill it! What for? Pretty creatur'," said Dave, stroking the hare's brown speckled fur, and laying its long black-tipped sensitive ears smoothly down over its back. "To take home." "Nay, who kills hares at the end of March, lad? Hares is mad in March." "Is that why it let you catch it, Dave ?" "Mebbe, lad, mebbe, Mester Dick.
Theer, hev you done stroking her ?" "No.
Why ?" "Going to let her run ?" "Wait a bit," cried Dick. "Tek her by the ears, lad, and putt thy hand beneath her.
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