the mahatma and the hare-第6章

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came　and　woke　me。

〃There　are　men　in　the　field；〃　she　said；　her　eyes　nearly　starting　out
of　her　head　with　fear；　for　she　was　always　very　timid。

〃I'm　off。〃

〃Are　you？〃　I　answered。　〃Well；　I　think　I　shall　stop　here　where　I　shan't
be　noticed。　If　we　begin　jumping　over　those　turnips　they　will　see　us。〃

〃We　might　run　down　the　rows；　keeping　our　ears　close　to　our　backs；〃　she
remarked。

〃No；〃　I　said；　〃there　are　too　many　bare　patches。〃

At　this　moment　a　gun　went　'bang'　some　way　off；　and　my　sister；　like　a
wise　hare；　scuttled　away　at　full　speed　for　the　wood。　But　I　only　made
myself　smaller　than　usual　and　lay　watching　and　listening。

There　was　a　good　deal　to　see　and　hear；　for　instance；　a　covey　of
partridges；　troublesome　birds　that　come　scratching　and　fidgeting　about
when　one　wants　to　sleep；　were　running　to　and　fro　in　a　great　state　of
concern。

〃They　are　after　us；〃　said　the　old　cock。

〃I　remember　the　same　thing　last　year。　Come　on；　do。〃

〃How　can　I　with　all　these　young　ones　to　look　after？〃　answered　the　hen。
〃Why；　if　once　they　are　scattered　I　shall　never　find　them　again。〃

〃Just　as　you　like；　you　know　best；〃　said　the　cock。　〃Goodbye；〃　and　away
he　flew；　while　his　wife　and　the　rest　ran　to　a　little　distance；
scattered　and　squatted。

Presently；　looking　back　over　my　shoulders　without　turning　my　head；　as
a　hare　can；　I　saw　a　line　of　men　walking　towards　me。　There　was　the　Red…
faced　Man　whom　Giles　called　Grampus　behind　his　back　and　Squire　to　his
face。　There　was　Giles　himself；　with　his　hurt　hand　tied　up；　holding　a
kind　of　stick　with　a　slit　in　it　from　which　hung　a　lot　of　dead
partridges　whose　necks　were　in　the　slit。　One　of　them　was　not　dead　or
had　come　to　life　again；　for　it　flapped　in　the　stick　trying　to　fly
away。　He　held　these　in　the　hand　that　was　tied　up；　and　in　the　other；
oh；　horror！　was　a　dead　hare　bleeding　from　its　nose。　It　looked
uncommonly　like　my　mother；　but　whether　it　were　or　no　I　couldn't　be
quite　sure。　At　least　from　that　day　neither　my　sister　nor　I　ever　saw
her　again。　I　suppose　you　haven't　met　her　coming　up　this　big　white
Road；　have　you；　Mahatma？

〃No；　no；〃　I　answered　impatiently；　〃I　have　already　told　you　that　you
are　the　first　hare　I　have　ever　seen　upon　the　Road。　Please　get　on　with
your　story；　or　the　Lights　will　change　and　the　Gates　be　opened　before　I
hear　its　end。〃

Just　when　I　saw　her　I　was　thinking　of　running　away；　but　the　sight
terrified　me　so　much　that　I　could　not　stir。　You　see；　Mahatma；　I　really
loved　my　mother　as　much　as　a　hare　can　love　anything；　which　is　a　good
deal。

Well；　beyond　Giles　was；　who　do　you　think？　That　dreadful　boy；　Tom；　with
a　gun　in　his　hand　too。　Did　I　say　that　they　all　had　guns；　except　Giles
and　some　beater　men；　only　that　Tom's　was　single…barrelled？　Then　there
were　others　whom　I　need　not　describe；　stretching　to　left　and　right；
and　worst　of　all；　perhaps；　there　was　Giles's　great　black　dog；　a　silly…
looking　beast　which　always　seemed　to　have　its　mouth　open　and　its
tongue　hanging　out；　and　to　be　wagging　a　big　tail　like　the　fox's；　only
black　and　more　ragged。

As　I　watched；　up　got　the　old　hen　partridge　and　one　of　her　young　ones
and　flew　towards　me。　The　Red…faced　Man　lifted　his　gun　and　fired；　once；
twice；　and　down　came　first　the　mother　partridge　and　then　the　young
one。　I　forgot　to　say　that　Tom　fired　too　at　the　old　partridge；　which
fell　dead　quite　close　to　me；　leaving　a　lot　of　feathers　floating　in　the
air。　As　it　fell　Tom　screeched　out

〃I　killed　that；　father。〃

This　made　the　Red…faced　Man　very　angry。

〃You　young　scoundrel；〃　he　said；　〃how　often　have　I　told　you　not　to
shoot　at　my　birds　under　my　nose？　No　sportsman　shoots　at　another　man's
birds；　and　as　for　killing　it；　you　were　yards　under　the　thing。　If　you
do　it　again　I　will　send　you　home。〃

〃Sorry；　father；〃　said　Tom；　adding　in　a　low　voice　with　a　snigger；　〃I
did　kill　it　after　all。　Dad　thinks　no　one　can　hit　a　partridge　except
himself。〃

Just　then　up　jumped　my　father　near　to　Giles；　and　came　leaping　in　front
of　the　Red…faced　Man　about　twenty　yards　away　from　him。

〃Mark　hare！〃　shouted　Giles；　and　Grampus；　who　was　still　glowering　at
Tom　and　had　not　quite　finished　pushing　the　cartridges　into　his　gun；
shut　it　up　in　a　hurry　and　fired　first　one　barrel　and　then　the　other。
But　my　father；　who　was　very　cunning；　jumped　into　the　air　at　the　first
shot　and　ducked　at　the　second；　so　that　he　was　missed；　at　least　I
suppose　that　is　why　he　was　missed。

Giles　grinned　and　the　Red…faced　Man　said；　〃Damn！〃　What　does　'damn'
mean；　Mahatma？　It　was　a　very　favourite　word　with　the　Red…faced　Man；
but　even　now　I　can't　quite　understand　it。〃

〃Nor　can　I；〃　I　answered。　〃Go　on。〃

〃Well；　my　poor　father　next　ran　in　front　of　Tom；　who　shot　too　and　hit
him　in　the　hind　legs　so　that　he　rolled　over　and　over　in　the　turnips；
kicking　and　screaming。　Have　you　ever　heard　a　hare　scream；　Mahatma？〃

〃Yes；　yes；　it　makes　a　horrid　noise　like　a　baby。〃

〃Wiped　your　eye　that　time；　Dad；〃　cried　Tom　in　an　exultant　voice。

〃I　don't　know　about　wiping　my　eye；〃　answered　his　father；　turning　quite
purple　with　rage；　〃but　I　wish　you　would　be　good　enough；　Thomas；　not　to
shoot　my　hares　behind；　so　that　they　make　that　beastly　row　which　upsets
me〃　（I　think　that　the　Red…faced　Man　was　really　kind　at　the　bottom）
〃and　spoils　them　for　the　market。　If　you　can't　hit　a　hare　in　front；
miss　it　like　a　gentleman。〃

〃As　you　do；　Dad；〃　said　Tom；　sniggering　again。　〃All　right；　I'll　try。〃

〃Giles；〃　roared　Grampus；　pretending　not　to　hear；　〃send　your　dog　and
fetch　that　hare。　I　can't　bear　its　screeching。〃

So　that　great　black　dog　rushed　forward　and　caught　my　poor　father　in
its　big　mouth；　although　he　tried　to　drag　himself　away　on　his　front
paws；　and　after　that　I　shut　my　eyes。

Then　a　lot　of　partridges　got　up　and　there　was　any　amount　of　banging；
though　most　of　them　were　missed。　This　made　the　Red…faced　Man　angrier
than　ever。　He　took　off　his　hat　and　waved　it；　bellowing

〃Call　back　that　brute　of　a　dog　of　yours；　Giles。　Call　it　back　at　once
or　I'll　shoot　it。〃

So　Giles　called；　〃Nigger。　Come　you　'ere；　Nigger！　Nigg；　Nigg；　Nigg！〃

But　Nigger　rushed　about　putting　up　partridges　all　over　the　place　while
Grampus　stamped　and　shouted　and　every　one　missed　everything；　till　at
last　Tom　sat　down　on　the　turnips　and　roared　with　laughter。

At　length；　after　Giles　had　beaten　Nigger　till　he　broke　a　stick　over
him；　making　him　howl　terribly；　order　was　restored；　and　the　line　having
reformed；　began　to　march　down　on　me。　For；　Mahatma；　I　was　so　frightened
by　what　had　happened　to　my　father；　and　I　think　my　mother；　that　I
didn't　remember　what　he；　I　mean　my　dead　father；　had　told　me；　always　to
run　away　when　there　is　a　chance；　as　poor　hares　can　only　protect
themselves　by　flight。

So　as　I　had　lost　the　chance　I　thought　that　I　would　just　sit　tight；
hoping　that　they　would　not　see　me。　Nor　indeed　would　they　if　it　hadn't
been　for　that　horrible　Tom。

During　the　confusion　the　mother　partridge　which　the　Red…faced　Man　had
shot　had　been　forgotten　by　everybody　except　Tom。　Tom；　you　see；　was
certain　that　he　had　shot　it　himself；　being　a　very　obstinate　boy；　and
was　determined　to　retrieve　it　as　his　own。

Now　that　partridge　had　fallen　within　a　yard　of　me；　with　its　beak　and
claws　pointing　to　the　sky；　and　when　the　line　had　passed　where　we　lay
Tom　lagged　behind　to　look　for　it。　He　did　not　find　it　then；　whether　he
ever　found　it　afterwards　I　am　sure　I　don't　know。　But　he　found　me。

〃By　Jove！　here's　a　hare；〃　he　said；　and　made　a　grab　at　me　just　as　he
had　done　in　the　furze　bush。

Well；　I　went。　Tom　shot　when　I　wasn't　more　than　four　yards　from　him；
and　the　whole　charge　passed　like　a　bullet　between　my　hind　legs　and
struck　the　ground　under　my　stomach；　sending　up　such　a　shower　of　earth
and　stones　that　I　was　knocked　right　over。

〃I've　hit　it！〃　yelled　Tom；　as　he　crammed　another　cartridge　into　his
single…barrelled　gun。

By　the　time　that　it　was　loaded　I　was　quite　thirty　yards　away　and　going
like　the　wind。　Tom　lifted　the　gun。

〃Don't　shoot！〃　roared　the　Red…faced　Man。

〃Mind　that　there　boy！〃　bellowed　Giles。

I　was　running　down　between　two　rows　of　turnips　and　presently　butted
into　a　lad　who　was　bending　over；　I　suppose　to　pick　up　a　partridge。　At
any　rate　his　taildo　you　call　it　his　tail；　Mahatma？〃

〃That　will　do；〃　I　answered。

〃Well；　his　tail　was　towards　me；　it　looked　very　round　and　shiny。　The
shot　from　Tom's　gun　hit　it　everywhere。　I　wish　they　had　all　gone　into
it；　but　as　he　was　so　far　away　the　charge　scattered　and　six　of　the
bullets　struck　me。　Oh！　they　did　hurt。　Put　your　hand　on　my　back；
Mahatma；　and　you　will　feel　the　six　lumps　they　made　beneath　the　grey
tufts　of　hair　that　grew　over　them；　for　they　are　still　there。〃

Forgetting　that　we　were　on　the　Road；　I　stretched　out　my　hand；　but；　of
course；　it　went　quite　through　the　hare；　although　I　could　see　the　six
little　grey　tufts　clearly　enough。

〃You　are　foolish；　Hare；　you　don't　remember　that　your　body　is　not　here
but　somewhere　else。〃

〃Quite　true；　Mahatma。　If　it　were　here　I　could　not　be　talking　to　you；
could　I？　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　have　no　body　now。　It　isoh；　never
mind　where。　Still；　you　can　see　the　grey　tufts；　can't　you？　Well；　I　only
hope　that　those　shot　hurt　that　fat　boy　half　as　much　as　they　did　me。
No；　I　don't　mean　that　I　hope　it　now；　I　used　to　hope　it。

My　goodness！　didn't　he　screech；　much　worse　than　my　father　when　his
legs　were　broken。　And　didn't　everybody　else　roar　and　shout；　and　didn't
I　dance？　Off　I　went　right　over　the　fat　boy；　who　had　tumbled　down；　up
to　the　end　of　the　field；　then　so　bewildered　was　I　with　shock　and　the
burning　pain；　back　again　quite　close　to　them。

But　now　nobody　shot　at　me　because　they　all　thought　the　boy　was　killed
and　were　gathered　round　him　looking　very　solemn。　Only　I　saw　that　the
Red…faced　Man　had　Tom　by　the　neck　and　was　kicking　him　hard。

After　that　I　saw　no　more；　for　I　ran　five　miles　before　I　stopped；　and
at　last　lay　down　in　a　little　swamp　near　the　seashore　to　which　my
mother　had　once　taken　me。　My　back　was　burning　like　fire；　and　I　tried
to　cool　it　in　the　soft　slush。



THE　COURSING

Quite　a　moon　went　by　before　I　recovered　from　Tom's　shot。　At　first　I
thought　that　I　was　going　to　die；　for；　although　luckily　none　of　my
bones　were　broken；　the　pain　in　my　back　was　dreadful。　When　I　tried　to
ease　the　agony　by　rubbing　against　roots　it　only　became　worse；　for　the
fur　fell　off；　leaving　sores　upon　which　flies　settled。　I　could　scarcely
eat　or　sleep；　and　grew　so　thin　that　the　bones　nearly　poked　through　my
pelt。　Indeed　I　wanted　very　much　to　die；　but　could　not。　On　the
contrary；　by　degrees　I　recovered；　till　at　last　I　was　quite　strong
again　and　like　other　hares；　except　for　the　six　little　grey　tufts　upon
my　back　and　one　hole　through　my　right　ear。

Now　all　this　while　I　had　lived　in　the　swamp　near　the　sea；　but　when　my
strength　returned　I　thought　of　my　old　home；　to　which　something　seemed
to　draw　me。　Also　there　were　no　turnips　near　the　swamp；　and　as　the
winter　came　on　I　found　very　little　to　eat　there。　So　one　day；　or　rather
one　night；　I　travelled　back　home。

As　it　happened　the　first　hare　that　I　met　near　the　big　wood　was　my
sister。　She　was　very　glad　to　see　me；　although　she　had　forgotten　how　we
came　to　part；　and　when　I　spoke　of　our　father　and　mother　these　did　not
seem　to　interest　her。　Still　from　tha