In a tone of greater confidence, Bigwig repeated, "Is your name Flyairth?"
"Have you come from Thinial, then?" she asked him.
"No, I haven't," answered Bigwig. "For the third time, is your name Flyairth?"
Hazel interposed. "Let's all settle down comfortably and explain ourselves to one another." Sitting down himself, he went on: "The burrows where we usually live are higher up, not far from here. We dug these burrows down here last autumn, to have somewhere more sheltered to go when it started snowing. We don't want to quarrel with you, but naturally we were surprised to find you here."
The doe spoke to Bigwig. "How do you know my name and where I've come from?"
"I can't explain," replied Bigwig, "or not now, anyway. Whether or not you can stay is for our Chief Rabbit here to decide."
Still she persisted. "But have you been to Thinial? How do you know about Thinial?"
"Never mind about that now," said Hazel. "We just want you to know that we're not your enemies. You can stay--for the time being. Bigwig here and I are going back up the hill now to bring down the rest of our rabbits."
"Let me come with you," said the doe. "I've never been up the hill as yet, and I ought to get to know your warren as soon as I can."
"All right," said Hazel, "but we shan't be able to show you much tonight. I just want to get our rabbits down here as quick as we can and let them settle in and go to sleep."
"I won't be any trouble to you," said Flyairth. "There's a full moon, so I'll be able to tag along quite easily."
"It's no distance, anyway," said Hazel. "We shan't be long. Bluebell and Hlao-roo, and you does--will you stay here until we come back? If the other two burrows are as good as this one, Bluebell, there'll be quite enough room for all of us."
"They're expandable, Hazel-rah, you see," said Bluebell. "The more rabbits you put in them, the bigger they get. And warmer too."
When Hazel, together with Bigwig and Flyairth, left the hole, night had fallen. The cloud had broken up, and the full moon, shining on the snow, gave them plenty of light. As they came off the steep slope and onto the top of the Down, Bigwig stopped, sniffing the air and looking about him.
"Wait a moment, Hazel-rah. There's something--well, something unusual."
Hazel also halted. "Yes, you're right. Whatever it is, I don't like it any more than you do. Still, we can't hang about here. Let's go on slowly and keep a good lookout."
The three rabbits approached the corner of the wood cautiously. They were a short distance away when Bigwig stopped again. "On the path, Hazel-rah. Something black, quite large. Can you see it?"
Hazel went a few yards nearer, peering ahead.
"Yes, I can see it. Surely it can't be what I think it is."
"Whatever it is," said Bigwig, "it's not moving. I don't think it's seen us, do you?"
"No," replied Hazel. "But I don't think it's alive at all."
"A trap?"
"No, it's not a trap. Still, whatever it is, we've got to go past it to get home."
They went forward yard by yard, Flyairth following Hazel somewhat hesitantly, till suddenly they both stopped at the same instant.
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Beside the track, motionless in the clear moonlight, lay a man. He was on his side and fully clothed, including boots and a woolen cap. From the scuffled snow, they could see that he had been dragged the short distance from the footpath. His eyes were closed, and his face looked, in some way, distorted.
"Let him alone," said Bigwig. "I don't care whether he's dead or not. Let's just let him alone."
Flyairth, who was plainly nervous, remained with Bigwig, while Hazel went a little closer, sniffing. "He's not dead. I can just feel his breath. But I agree about letting him alone."
"Look at the snow," said Bigwig. "D'you see? There were two of them walking together side by side. Then this one fell down--suddenly, I'd say--and the other dragged him to where he is now and then left him and went on, the same way that they'd been going."
"Hadn't we better go back?" said Flyairth. "It must be dangerous, surely? Men--even one like this--they're always dangerous."