“Granted,” Ruth said. “But what does ‘meachin’ mean?”
“Why, just as though the wind felt bad and was whimpering about it,” said Dot, with assurance. “It makes you all shivery to listen to it. And after we heard that link, and know that there are bears and wolfs about—O-o-oh! what’s that, Ruthie?”
Something white had flashed right up in front of the noses of the first team of horses, and with great leaps broke away from the road. Tom Jonah was at the rear of the procession and did not at first see this bounding shape.
Neale stood up in the second sleigh and clapped his hands sharply together. The white ball stopped—halting right in a snow-patch; being so much like the snow itself in color that those in the sledges could scarcely see it. The sharp crack of Neale’s ungloved palms seemed to make the creature cower in the snow. It halted for a moment only, however.
“Oh! The bunny!” gasped Tess, standing up to see.
“A big white hare,” Mr. Howbridge said. “I had no idea there were such big ones around here.”
The hare burst into high speed again and disappeared, almost before Tom Jonah set out for him.
“Come back, Tom Jonah!” shouted Tess. “Why, you couldn’t catch that bunny if you had started ahead of him.”
“Wow! that’s a good one,” said Neale O’Neil. “Tell you what, Aggie, those small sisters of yours are right full of new ideas.”
“That is what teacher says is the matter with Robbie Foote,” remarked Sammy, thoughtfully.