There the ground was perforated like a sieve.
"Here are the burrows!" cried Herbert.
"Yes," replied the reporter, "so I see." "But are they inhabited ?" "That is the question." This was soon answered.

Almost immediately, hundreds of little animals, similar to rabbits, fled in every direction, with such rapidity that even Top could not overtake them.

Hunters and dog ran in vain; these rodents escaped them easily.

But the reporter resolved not to leave the place, until he had captured at least half-a-dozen of the quadrupeds.
He wished to stock their larder first, and domesticate those which they might take later.

It would not have been difficult to do this, with a few snares stretched at the openings of the burrows.