But there, alas! he found a wide net stretched right across the bank so that to slip down the mound on the top was impossible.

This would certainly have been his course had not the net been there.
It was now doubtless that the spaniel caught wind of him, and the scent was so strong that it overcame his obedience.

The moment the dog got on the bank, the rabbit slipped down into the rushes in the ditch--I did not see him because my back was turned in the act to scramble out.

Then, directly the spaniel gave tongue the rabbit darted for the open, hoping to reach the buries in the hedge on the opposite side of the meadow.
This incident explained why the ferret seemed so loth to go back into the hole.

He had crept out some few moments behind the rabbit and in his aimless uncertain manner was trying to follow the scent along the bank.
He did not like being compelled to give up this scent and to search again for another.