Coursing  one  day  a  hare,  which  appeared  to  me  uncommonly big,  I  pitied  my  poor  bitch,  being  big  with  pups,  yet  she would  course  as  fast  as  ever.  I  could  follow  her  on  horseback only  at  a  great  distance.  At  once  I  heard  a  cry  as  it  were  a pack  of  hounds,  but  so  weak  and  faint  that  I  hardly  knew what  to  make  of  it.  Coming  up  to  them  I  saw  the  most  wonder- ful sight  conceivable!  The  hare  had  littered  in  running;  the same  had  happened  to  my  bitch  in  coursing — and  there  were just  as  many  leverets  as  pups.    By  instinct  the  former  ran,  the latter  coursed  :  and  thus  I  found  myself  in  possession  at  once of  six  hares,  and  as  many  dogs,  at  the  end  of  a  course  which had  only  began  with  one.

- Chapter 3