After a recent rain, the dog was really eager to go into the back yard, so before long I opened the door for her. Just then I noticed a rabbit idling on the grass near the back fence, which is fairly far from the door. Instantly the dog dashed out and made a beeline — which really ought to be a dogline — toward the rabbit.

For a long instant, the rabbit seemed to notice nothing. At least, it didn’t move. At what seemed like (to me) the last possible moment, the rabbit took off in the direction of the fence, which has undergrowth obscuring much of it this time of the year, and both dashing animals, smaller and larger, disappeared into the greenery.

About five seconds later, the dog emerged empty-mouthed. The dog was fast; the rabbit faster.