English
Whendoubtfulwhatcoursetopursue
‘Tissometimesbesttonothingdo.
—Whitefoot.
JumpertheHarewasbeginningtofeeleasierinhismind.Hewasnolongershakinginside.
Infact,hewasbeginningtofeelquitesafe.
TherehewasinplainsightofWhiteytheSnowyOwl,sittingmotionlessonastumponlyashortdistanceaway,yetWhiteyhadn’tseenhim.
Whiteyhadlookedstraightathimmanytimes,butbecauseJumperhadnotmovedsomuchasahairWhiteyhadmistakenhimforalittleheapofsnow.
“AllIhavetodoistokeeprightonsittingperfectlystill,andI’llbeassafeasifWhiteywerenowhereabout.Yes,sir,Iwill,”thoughtJumper.
“Byandbyhewillbecometiredandflyaway.
Idohopehe’lldothatbeforeWhitefootcomesoutagain.
IfWhitefootshouldcomeout,Icouldn’twarnhimbecausethatwoulddrawWhitey’sattentiontome,andhewouldn’tlooktwiceataWoodMousewhentherewasachancetogetaHareforhisdinner.
“Thisisaqueerworld.Itisso.OldMotherNaturedoesqueerthings.
HereshehasgivenmeawhitecoatinwintersothatImaynotbeeasilyseenwhenthereissnowontheground,andatthesametimeshehasgivenoneofthoseIfearmostawhitecoatsothathemaynotbeeasilyseen,either.Itcertainlyisaqueerworld.”
JumperforgotthatWhiteywasonlyachancevisitorfromtheFarNorthandthatitwasonlyonceinagreatwhilethathecamedownthere,whileupintheFarNorthwherehebelongednearlyeverybodywasdressedinwhite.
Jumperhadn’tmovedonce,butonceinawhileWhiteyturnedhisgreatroundheadforalookallaboutineverydirection.
Butitwasdoneinsuchawaythatonlyeyeswatchinghimsharplywouldhavenoticedit.
MostofthetimehekepthisfierceyelloweyesfixedonthelittleholeinthesnowinwhichWhitefoothaddisappeared.
YouknowWhiteycanseebydayquiteaswellasanyotherbird.
Jumper,havingstoppedworryingabouthimself,begantoworryaboutWhitefoot.
HeknewthatWhitefoothadseenWhiteyarriveonthatstumpandthatwaswhyhehaddodgedbackintohisholeandsincethenhadnotevenpokedhisnoseout.
ButthathadbeensolongagothatbythistimeWhitefootmustthinkthatWhiteyhadgoneonabouthisbusiness,andJumperexpectedtoseeWhitefootappearanymoment.
WhatJumperdidn’tknowwasthatWhitefoot’sbrightlittleeyeshadallthetimebeenwatchingWhiteyfromanotherlittleholeinthesnowsomedistanceaway.
Atunnelledfromthislittleholetothefirstlittlehole.
Suddenlyoffamongthetreessomethingmoved.
Atleast,Jumperthoughthesawsomethingmove.
Yes,thereitwas,alittleblackspotmovingswiftlythiswayandthatwayoverthesnow.Jumperstaredveryhard.
Andthenhisheartseemedtojumprightupinhisthroat.Itdidso.Hefeltasifhewouldchoke.
Thatblackspotwasthetipendofatail,thetailofasmall,veryslimfellowdressedallinwhite,theonlyotheroneinalltheGreenForestwhodressesallinwhite.ItwasShadowtheWeasel!
InhiswhitewintercoatheiscalledErmine.
Hewasrunningthiswayandthatway,backandforth,withhisnosetothesnow.
Hewashunting,andJumperknewthatsoonerorlaterShadowwouldfindhim.
SafetyfromShadowlayinmakingthebestpossibleuseofthoselonglegsofhis,buttodothatwouldbringWhiteytheOwlswoopingafterhim.WhattodoJumperdidn’tknow.Andsohedidnothing.
Ithappenedtobethewisestthinghecoulddo.
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