the mahatma and the hare-第4章

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thing　I　remember　about　my　mother。　Afterwards　she　seemed　sorry　because
she　had　hurt　me；　and　nursed　us　all　three；　letting　me　have　the　most
milk。　My　mother　always　loved　me　the　best　of　us；　because　I　was　such　a
fine　leveret；　with　a　pretty　grey　patch　on　my　left　ear。　Just　as　I　had
finished　drinking　another　hare　came　who　was　my　father。　He　was　very
large；　with　a　glossy　coat　and　big　shining　eyes　that　always　seemed　to
see　everything；　even　when　it　was　behind　him。

He　was　frightened　about　something；　and　hustled　my　mother　and　us　little
ones　out　of　the　wheat…field　into　the　big　wood　by　which　it　is　bordered。
As　we　left　the　field　I　saw　two　tall　creatures　that　afterwards　I　came
to　know　were　men。　They　were　placing　wire…netting　round　the　fieldyou
see　I　understand　now　what　all　these　things　were；　although　of　course　I
did　not　at　the　time。　The　two　ends　of　the　wire　netting　had　nearly　come
together。　There　was　only　a　little　gap　left　through　which　we　could　run。
Another　young　hare；　or　it　may　have　been　a　rabbit；　had　got　entangled　in
it；　and　one　of　the　men　was　beating　it　to　death　with　a　stick。　I
remember　that　the　sound　of　its　screams　made　me　feel　cold　down　the
back；　for　I　had　never　heard　anything　like　that　before；　and　this　was
the　first　that　I　had　seen　of　pain　and　death。

The　other　man　saw　us　slipping　through　and　ran　at　us　with　his　stick。　My
mother　went　first　and　escaped　him。　Then　came　my　sister；　then　I；　then
my　brother。　My　father　was　last　of　all。　The　man　hit　with　his　stick　and
it　came　down　thud　along　side　of　me；　just　touching　my　fur。　He　hit　again
and　broke　the　foreleg　of　my　brother。　Still　we　all　managed　to　get
through　into　the　wood；　except　my　father　who　was　behind。

〃There's　the　old　buck！〃　cried　one　of　the　men　（I　understand　what　he
said　now；　though　at　the　time　it　meant　nothing　to　me）。　〃Knock　him　on
the　head！〃

So　leaving　us　alone　they　ran　at　him。　But　my　father　was　much　too　quick
for　them。　He　rushed　back　into　the　corn　and　afterwards　joined　us　in　the
wood；　for　he　had　seen　wire　before　and　knew　how　to　escape　it。　Still　he
was　terribly　frightened　and　made　us　keep　in　the　wood　till　the
following　evening；　not　even　allowing　my　mother　to　go　to　her　form　in
the　rough　pasture　on　its　other　side　and　lie　up　there。

Also　we　were　in　trouble　because　my　brother's　forepaw　was　broken。　It
gave　him　a　great　deal　of　pain；　so　that　he　could　not　rest　or　sleep。
After　a　while；　however；　it　mended　up　in　a　fashion；　but　he　was　never
able　to　run　as　fast　as　we　could；　nor　did　he　grow　so　big。　In　the　end
the　mother　fox　killed　him；　as　I　shall　tell。

My　mother　asked　my　father　what　the　men　with　the　sticks　were　doing
for；　you　know；　many　animals　can　talk　to　each　other　in　their　own　way；
even　if　they　are　of　different　kinds。　He　told　her　that　they　were
protecting　the　wheat　to　prevent　us　from　eating　it；　to　which　she
answered　angrily　that　hares　must　live　somehow；　especially　when　they
had　young　ones　to　nurse。　My　father　replied　that　men　did　not　seem　to
think　so；　and　perhaps　they　had　young　ones　also。　I　see　now　that　my
father　was　a　philosophic　hare。　But　are　you　tired　of　my　story？

〃Not　at　all；〃　I　answered；　〃go　on；　please。　It　is　very　interesting　to
hear　things　described　from　the　animal's　point　of　view；　especially　when
that　animal　has　grown　wise　and　learned　to　understand。〃

〃Ah；〃　answered　the　Hare。　〃I　see　what　you　mean。　And　it　is　odd；　but　I　do
understand。　All　has　become　clear　to　me。　I　don't　know　what　happened
when　I　died；　but　there　came　a　change；　and　I　knew　that　I　who　was　but　a
beast　always　have　been　and　still　am　a　necessary　part　of　everything　as
much　as　you　are；　though　more　helpless　and　humble。　Yes；　I　am　as　ancient
and　as　far…reaching　as　yourself；　but　how　I　began　and　how　I　shall　end
is　dark　to　me。　Well；　I　will　go　on　with　my　story。

It　must　have　been　a　moon　or　so　later；　after　my　mother　had　given　up
nursing　me；　that　I　went　to　lie　out　by　myself。　There　was　a　big　house　on
the　hillside　overlooking　the　sea；　and　near　to　it　were　gardens
surrounded　by　a　wall。　Also　outside　of　this　wall　was　another　patch　of
garden　where　cabbages　grew。　I　found　a　way　to　those　cabbages　and　kept
it　secret；　for　I　was　greedy　and　wanted　them　all　for　myself。　I　used　to
creep　in　at　night　and　eat　them；　also　some　flowers　with　spiky　leaves
that　grew　round　them　which　had　a　very　fine　flavour。　Then　after　the
dawn　came　I　went　to　a　form　which　I　had　made　under　a　furze　bush　on　the
slope　that　ran　down　to　the　sea；　and　slept　there。

One　day　I　was　awakened　by　something　white；　hard；　and　round　which
rolled　gently　and　stopped　still　quite　close　to　me。　It　was　not　alive；
although　it　had　a　queer　smell；　and　I　wondered　why　it　moved　at　all。
Presently　I　heard　voices　and　there　appeared　a　little　man；　and　with　him
somebody　who　was　not　a　man　because　it　was　differently　dressed　and
spoke　in　a　higher　voice。　I　saw　that　they　had　sticks　in　their　hands　and
thought　of　running　away；　then　that　it　would　be　safer　to　lie　quite
close。　They　came　up　to　me　and　the　little　man　said

〃There's　the　ball；　pick　it　up；　Ella；　the　lie　is　too　bad。〃

She；　for　now　I　know　it　was　what　is　called　a　girl；　stooped　to　obey　and
saw　my　back。

〃Tom；〃　she　said　in　a　whisper；　〃here's　a　young　hare　on　its　form。〃

〃Get　out　of　the　light；〃　he　answered；　〃and　I'll　kill　it；〃　and　he　lifted
the　stick　he　held；　which　had　a　twisted　iron　end。

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃catch　it　alive；　I　want　a　hare　to　be　a　friend　to　my
rabbit；　which　has　lost　all　its　little　ones。〃

〃Lost　them？　Eaten　them；　you　mean；　because　you　would　always　go　and
stare　at　it；〃　said　Tom。　〃Where's　the　leveret？　Oh！　I　see。　Now；　look
out！〃

A　moment　later　and　I　was　in　darkness。　Tom　had　thrown　himself　upon　the
top　of　me　and　was　grabbing　at　me　with　his　hands。　I　nearly　got　away；
but　as　my　head　poked　up　under　his　arm　the　girl　caught　hold　of　it。

〃Oh！　it's　scratching；〃　she　cried；　as　indeed　I　was　with　all　my　might。
〃Hold　it；　Tom；　hold　it！〃

〃Hold　it　yourself；〃　said　Tom；　〃my　face　is　full　of　furze　prickles。〃　So
she　held　and　presently　he　helped　her；　till　in　the　end　I　was　tied　up　in
a　pocket…handkerchief　and　carried　I　knew　not　whither。　Indeed　I　was
almost　mad　with　fear。

When　I　came　to　myself　I　found　that　I　was　within　a　kind　of　wire　run
which　smelt　foully；　as　though　hundreds　of　things　had　lived　in　it　for
years。　There　was　a　hutch　at　the　end　of　the　run　in　which　sat　an
enormous　she…rabbit；　quite　as　big　as　my　mother；　a　fierce…looking　brute
with　long　yellow　teeth。　I　was　afraid　of　that　rabbit　and　got　as　far
from　it　as　I　could。　Presently　it　hopped　out　and　looked　at　me。

〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　it　asked。　〃Can't　you　talk？　Well；　it　doesn't
matter。　If　I　get　hungry　I'll　eat　you！　Do　you　hear　that？　I'll　eat　you；
as　I　did　all　the　others；〃　and　it　showed　its　big　yellow　teeth　and
hopped　back　into　the　hutch。

After　that　Tom　and　the　girl　came　and　gave　us　plenty　of　food　which　the
big　rabbit　ate；　for　I　could　touch　nothing。　For　two　days　they　came；　and
then　I　think　they　forgot　all　about　us。　I　grew　very　hungry；　and　at
night　filled　myself　with　some　of　the　remaining　food；　such　as　stale
cabbage　leaves。　By　next　morning　all　was　gone；　and　the　big　rabbit　grew
hungry　also。　All　that　day　it　hopped　about　sniffing　at　me　and　showing
its　yellow　teeth。

〃I　shall　eat　you　to…night；〃　it　said。

I　ran　round　and　round　the　pen　in　terror；　till　at　last　I　found　a　place
where　rats　had　been　working　under　the　wire；　almost　big　enough　for　me
to　squeeze　through；　but　not　quite。

The　sun　went　down　and　the　big　she…rabbit　came　out。

〃Now　I　am　going　to　eat　you；〃　it　said；　〃as　I　ate　all　the　others。　I　am
hungry；　very　hungry；〃　and　it　prodded　me　about　with　its　nose　and　rolled
me　over。

At　last　with　a　little　squeal　it　drove　its　big　yellow　teeth　into　me
behind。　Oh！　how　they　hurt！　I　was　near　the　rat…hole。　I　rushed　at　it；
scrabbling　and　wriggling。　The　big　rabbit　pounced　on　me　with　its　fore…
feet；　trying　to　hold　me；　but　too　late；　for　I　was　through；　leaving　some
of　my　fur　behind　me。　I　ran；　how　I　ran！　without　stopping；　till　at
length　I　found　my　mother　in　the　rough　pasture　by　the　wood　and　told　her
everything。

〃Ah！〃　she　said；　〃that's　what　comes　of　greediness　and　of　trying　to　be
too　clever。　Now；　perhaps；　you　will　learn　to　stop　at　home。〃

So　I　did　for　a　long　while。

*****

The　summer　went　by　without　anything　particular　happening；　except　that
my　brother　with　the　lame　foot　was　eaten　by　the　mother　fox。　That　great
red　beast　was　always　prowling　about；　and　at　night　surprised　us　in　a
field　near　the　wood　where　we　were　feeding　on　some　beautiful　turnips。
The　rest　of　us　got　away；　but　my　brother　being　lame；　was　not　quick
enough。　The　fox　caught　him；　and　I　heard　her　sharp　white　teeth　crunch
into　his　bones。　The　sound　made　me　quite　sick；　and　my　mother　was　very
sad　afterwards。　She　complained　to　my　father　of　the　cruelty　of　foxes；
but　he；　who；　as　I　have　said；　was　a　philosopher；　answered　her　almost　in
her　own　words。

〃Foxes　must　live；　and　this　one　has　young　to　feed；　and　therefore　is
always　hungry。　There　are　three　of　them　in　a　hole　at　the　top　of　the
wood；〃　he　remarked。　〃Also　our　son　was　lame　and　would　certainly　have
been　caught　when　the　hunting　begins。〃

〃What's　the　hunting？〃　I　asked。

〃Never　mind；〃　said　my　father　sharply。　〃No　doubt　you'll　find　out　in
time；　that　is　if　you　live　through　the　shooting。〃

〃What's　the　shooting？〃　I　began；　but　my　father　cuffed　me　over　the　head
and　I　was　silent。

I　may　tell　you　that　my　mother　soon　got　over　the　loss　of　my　brother；
for　just　about　that　time　she　had　four　new　little　ones；　after　which
neither　she　nor　my　father　seemed　to　think　any　more　about　us。　My　sister
and　I　hated　those　little　ones。　We　two　alone　remembered　my　brother；　and
sometimes　wondered　whether　he　was　quite　gone　or　would　one　day　come
back。　The　fox；　I　am　glad　to　say；　got　caught　in　a　trap。　At　least　I　am
not　glad　nowI　was　glad　because；　you　see；　I　was　so　much　afraid　of
her。



THE　SHOOTING

I　was　quite　close　by　one　morning　when　the　fox；　who　was　smelling　about
after　me；　I　suppose　because　it　had　liked　my　brother　so　much；　got
caught　in　the　big　trap　which　was　covered　over　artfully　with　earth　and
baited　with　some　stuff　which　stank　horribly。　I　remember　it　looked　very
like　my　own　hind…legs。　The　fox；　not　being　able　to　find　me；　went　to
this　filth　and　tried　to　eat　it。

Then　suddenly　there　was　a　dreadful　fuss。　The　fox　yelped　and　flew　into
the　air。　I　saw　that　a　great　black　thing　was　fast　on　its　forepaw。　How
that　fox　did　jump　and　roll！　It　was　quite　wonderful　to　see　her。　She
looked　like　a　great　yellow　ball；　except　for　a　lot　of　white　marks　about
the　head；　which　were　her　teeth。　But　the　trap　would　not　come　away；
because　it　was　tied　to　a　root　with　a　chain。

At　last　the　fox　grew　tired　and；　lying　down；　began　to　think；　licking
its　paw　as　it　thought　and　making　a　kind　of　moaning　noise。　Next　it
commenced　gnawing　at　the　root　after　trying　the　chain　and　finding　that
its　teeth　would　not　go　into　it。　While　it　was　doing　this　I　heard　the
sound　of　a　man　somewhere　in　the　wood。　So　did　the　fox；　and　oh！　it
looked　so　frightened。　It　lay　down　panting；　its　tongue　hanging　out　and
its　ears　pressed　back　against　its　head；　and　whisked　its　big　tail　from
side　to　side。　Then　it　began　to　gnaw　again；　but　this　time　at　its　own
leg。　It　wanted　to　bite　it　off　and　so　get　away。　I　thought　this　very
brave　of　the　fox；　and　though　I　hated　it　because　it　had　eaten