over some of the outlets,
nets were spread, and Roland was delighted at the skilful way in which
Eric fastened them down with pegs, which he made from twigs cut from
the trees. The ferrets were let loose, and very soon a rustling was
heard, and some rabbits came into the nets, and were soon bitten and
shaken to death by the dogs. The ferrets were sent in again, and the
hunters stood before the holes to shoot the rabbits as they came out;
Roland missed, but Eric hit his mark.

Eric was far from saying anything to Roland of the cruelty shown,
especially in the net-hunting, and the manner in which the dogs bit at
the eyes of the poor creatures, and never let go till all struggling
ceased; he was enough of a hunter to overlook this. Claus knew how to
smother pity by inveighing against the confounded rabbits, which gnawed
at the young vines and spoiled them and all that was best in the
fields; he imitated one of the peasants who always struck at a rabbit
with his stick, crying,--

"Have I got you at last, you damned--"

After they had gone farther on, Rose went into a hole; and they heard
her barking deep down under ground. She had found a fox. The hunter's
excitement awoke in Eric, and they all stood quietly on the watch.
Thistle was also sent into the hole, and his bark was heard far below,
but the fox did not come out. Soon Rose appeared with her nose torn and
bleeding; she looked up at the hunters and went back into the hole;
whining and barking were heard, and at last the dogs came back,
streaming with blood, but no fox appeared; they waited long, but in
vain.

"They have killed him," said the huntsman in triumph; "we shall never
get him."

Roland was full of "tender compassion for the dogs, but Claus consoled
him with the assurance that they would soon get over their hurts.
Roland said he could not understand how dogs could bite a fox to death,
when a fox had such sharp teeth; the huntsman shrugged his shoulders,
but Eric answered:--

"The fox bites sharply, but does not hold on."

Roland looked at Eric in surprise, feeling that he was a man from whom
everything could be learned; all Eric's knowledge had hardly made so
much impression as this single remark.

Again they sent the ferrets into a fresh burrow; only one came out;
they waited long and left the huntsman on the spot, but the second
ferret was not to be seen. Roland was inconsolable for the loss of the
fine little creature, so bright and tame. When