to lather away - meaning

[Veronikap]

Can you help me, please?

What does the verb 'lather away' mean in the following context?

As they were sitting thus, all at once a hare came running across the field. “Ah, ha, just in time,” said the barber. So he took his basin and soap, and lathered away until the hare drew near, then he soaped and shaved off the hare's whiskers whilst he was running at the top of his speed, and did not even cut his skin or injure a hair on his body. "

[Casiopea]

From http://www.dictionary.reference.com/

noun
A foam formed by soap or detergent agitated in water, as in washing or shaving.

transitive verb
To spread with lather.

[Veronikap]

thank you..

i wasn't sure because i found the particle 'away' a bit confusing and thought the meaning of the verb might have been changed

[Casiopea]

Oh, I see.

In that context "away" is synonymous with freely, at will. e.g., to lather freely, not sparingly.