The poor creature had been stopped by a _cul de sac_, and the ferret came upon him from behind.
As the hole was small the rabbit's body completely filled it, and the ferret could not scramble past to get at the spot behind the ear where it usually seizes.

The ferret had therefore deliberately gnawn away the hindquarters and so bored a passage.

The ferret being so gorged was useless for further hunting and was replaced in the bag.

But Little John gave him a drink of water first from the bottom of the ditch.
Orion and I, wearied with the digging, now insisted on removing to the next bury, for we felt sure that the remaining rabbits in this one would not bolt.

Little John had no choice but to comply, but he did so with much reluctance and many rueful glances back at the holes from which he took the nets.