Whilst Lepus is thus engaged in conversation with the mighty oak, the acorn draws the attention of a common squirrel, this treasure overcoming its inherent fear of humanity. The chattering creature, perhaps one of the bravest of its tribe, makes so bold as to attempt to seize the acorn.
In the mad scramble that follows, neither man nor beast succeeds in gaining the object of dispute. Rather it falls to the ground and rolls for some distance, where, as Fate would have it, it comes to a halt amongst others of its kind. (Such a pile of acorns is, of course, to be expected beneath an oak of great age.) It would be a matter of some difficulty to determine exactly which of these many is the one in question. (As to why the squirrel choose to make a hazardous venture to obtain such, when many others, in no way distinguishable from it, lay about in easy access, that is a question best left to the mysteries of Fauna.)
Meanwhile, Lepus having made such meditation as he could upon the preternatural aspects hereabouts, is able to determine that the oak itself, although impressive enough for its sheer bulk and extraordinary age, is purely of Nature. It is true that beings of unearthly nature have, at times, made use of it as hearth and home, there being traces of the uncanny detectable by the Gypsy's hidden senses for such. As to their current residency or absence, that would require further exploration to determine.
The notion of surrounding the isle with a barrier of iron raises several matters to be meditated upon;
viz. where to obtain sufficient supply of ironwork, and in what manner to construct the defenses from such.
