the mahatma and the hare-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


came　to　part；　and　when　I　spoke　of　our　father　and　mother　these　did　not
seem　to　interest　her。　Still　from　that　time　forward　we　lived　together
more　or　less　till　her　end　came。

One　daythis　was　after　we　had　made　our　home　in　the　big　wood；　as　hares
often　do　in　winterthere　was　a　great　disturbance。　When　we　tried　to　go
out　to　feed　at　daylight　we　found　little　fires　burning　everywhere；　and
near　to　them　boys　who　beat　themselves　and　shouted。　So　we　went　back
into　the　wood；　where　the　pheasants　were　running　to　and　fro　in　a　great
state　of　mind。

Some　hours　later；　when　the　sun　was　quite　high；　men　began　to　march
about　and　scores　of　shots　were　fired　a　long　way　off；　also　a　wounded
cock…pheasant　fell　near　to　us　and　fluttered　away；　making　a　queer　noise
in　its　throat。　It　looked　very　funny　stumbling　along　on　one　leg　with
its　beak　gaping　and　two　of　the　long　feathers　in　its　tail　broken。

〃I　know　what　this　is；〃　I　said　to　my　sister。　〃Let's　be　gone　before　they
shoot　us。　I've　had　enough　of　being　shot。〃

So　off　we　went；　rushing　past　a　boy　by　his　fire；　who　yelled　and　threw　a
stick　at　us。　But　as　it　happened；　on　the　borders　of　the　property　of　the
Red…faced　Man　there　were　poachers　who　knew　that　hares　would　come　out
of　the　wood　on　this　day　of　the　shooting　and　had　made　ready　for　us　by
setting　wire　nooses　in　the　gaps　of　the　hedges　through　which　we　ran。　I
got　my　foot　into　one　of　these　but　managed　to　shake　it　off。　My　sister
was　not　so　lucky；　for　her　head　went　into　another　of　them。　She　kicked
and　tore；　but　the　more　she　struggled　the　tighter　drew　the　noose。

I　watched　her　for　a　little　while　until　one　of　the　poachers　ran　up　with
a　stick。

Then　I　went　away；　as　I　could　not　bear　to　see　her　beaten　to　death；　and
that　was　the　end　of　my　sister。　So　now　I　was　the　only　one　left　alive　of
our　family；　except　perhaps　some　younger　brothers　whom　I　did　not　know；
though　I　think　it　was　one　of　these　that　afterwards　I　saw　shot　quite
dead　by　Giles。　He　went　over　and　over　and　lay　as　still　as　though　he　had
never　moved　in　all　his　life。　Death　seems　a　very　wonderful　thing；
Mahatma；　but　I　won't　ask　you　what　it　is　because　I　perceive　that　you
can't　answer。

After　this　nothing　happened　to　me　for　a　long　while。　Indeed　I　had　the
best　time　of　my　life　and　grew　very　strong　and　big；　yes；　the　strongest
and　biggest　hare　of　any　that　I　ever　saw；　also　the　swiftest　of　foot。
Twice　I　was　chased　by　dogs；　once　by　Giles's　black　beast；　Nigger；　and
once　by　that　of　a　shepherd。　Finding　that　I　could　run　right　away　from
them　without　exerting　myself　at　all；　I　grew　to　despise　dogs。　Ah！
little　did　I　know　then　that　there　are　many　different　breeds　of　these
animals。

One　day　in　mid…winter；　as　the　weather　was　very　mild　and　open；　I　was
lying　on　the　rough　grass　field　that　I　have　spoken　of　which　borders　a
flat　stretch　of　moorland。　On　this　moorland　in　summer　grew　tall　ferns；
but　now　these　had　died　and　been　broken　down　by　the　wind。　Suddenly　I
woke　up　from　my　sleep　to　see　a　number　of　men　walking　and　riding
towards　me。

They　were　tenants　and　others　who；　although　the　real　coursing　season
had　not　yet　begun　in　our　neighbourhood；　had　been　asked　by　Grampus　to
come　to　try　their　greyhounds　upon　his　land。　Those　of　them　who　walked
for　the　most　part　held　two　long；　lean　dogs　on　a　string；　while　one　or
two　carried　dead　hares。　They　were　dreadful…looking　hares　that　seemed
to　have　been　bitten　all　over；　at　least　their　coats　were　wet　and
broken。　I　shivered　at　the　sight　of　them；　feeling　sure　that　I　was　going
to　be　put　to　some　new　kind　of　torture。

Besides　the　men　on　foot　were　those　on　horseback；　among　whom　I
recognised　the　Red…faced　Man　and　my　enemy；　the　dreadful　Tom。　Most　of
the　others　were　people　called　farmers；　who　seemed　very　happy　and
excited　and　from　time　to　time　drank　something　out　of　little　bottles
which　they　passed　to　each　other。　Giles　was　not　there。　Now　I　know　that
this　was　because　he　hated　coursing；　which　killed　down　hares。　Hares；　he
thought；　out　to　be　shot；　not　coursed。

Whilst　I　watched；　wondering　what　to　do；　there　was　a　shout　of　〃There
she　goes！〃　and　all　the　long　dogs　began　to　pull　at　their　strings。　Off
the　necks　of　two　of　them　the　collars　seemed　to　fall；　and　away　they
leapt　pursuing　a　hare。　The　men　on　the　horses　galloped　after　them；　but
the　men　on　foot　remained　where　they　were。

Now　I　was　afraid　to　get　up　and　run　lest　they　should　loose　the　other
dogs　on　me；　so　I　lay　still；　till　presently　I　saw　the　hare　coming　back
towards　me；　followed　by　the　two　dogs　whose　noses　almost　touched　its
tail。　It　was　exhausted　and　tried　to　twist　and　spring　away　to　the
right。　But　as　it　did　so　one　of　the　dogs　caught　it　in　its　mouth　and　bit
it　till　it　died。

〃That　was　a　rotten　hare；〃　said　Tom；　who　cantered　up　just　then；　〃it
gave　no　course　at　all。〃

〃Yes；〃　puffed　Grampus。　〃Hope　the　next　one　will　show　better　sport。〃

〃Hope　so　too；〃　answered　Tom；　〃especially　as　it　is　Jack　and　Jill's　turn
to　be　slipped；　and　they　are　the　best　greyhounds　for　twenty　miles
round。〃

Then　the　Red…faced　Man　gave　some　orders　and　Jack　and　Jill　were　brought
forward　by　the　man　whose　business　it　was　to　slip　the　dogs。　One　of　them
was　black　and　one　yellow；　I　think　Jack　was　the　black　onea　dreadful；
sneaking…looking　beast　with　a　white　tip　to　its　tail；　which　ended　in　a
sort　of　curl。

〃Forward　now；〃　said　Grampus；　〃and　go　slow。　There's　sure　to　be　another
puss　or　two　in　this　rough　grass。〃

Next　second　I　was　up　and　away；　and　before　you　could　count　twelve　Jack
and　Jill　were　after　me。　I　saw　them　standing　on　their　hind　legs
straining　at　the　cord。　Then　the　collars　fell　from　them　and　they　leapt
forward　like　the　light。　My　thought　was　to　get　back　to　the　wood；　which
was　about　a　minute's　run　behind　me；　but　I　did　not　dare　to　turn　and
head　for　it　because　of　the　long　line　of　people　through　which　I　must
pass　if　I　tried　to　do　so。　So　I　ran　straight　for　the　moorland；　hoping
to　turn　there　and　reach　the　wood　on　its　other　side；　although　this
meant　a　long　journey。

For　a　while　all　went　well　with　me；　and　having　a　good　start　I　began　to
hope　that　I　should　outrun　these　beasts；　as　I　had　the　shepherd's　dog
and　the　retriever。　But　I　did　not　know　Jack　and　Jill。　Just　as　I　reached
the　borders　of　the　moor　I　heard　the　patter　of　their　feet　behind　me；
and　looking　back　saw　them　coming　up；　about　as　far　away　as　I　was　from
Tom　when　he　shot　me。

They　were　running　quite　close　together　and　behind　them　galloped　the
judge　and　other　men。　There　was　a　fence　here　and　I　bolted　through　a
hole　in　it。　The　greyhounds　jumped　over　and　for　a　moment　lost　sight　of
me；　for　I　had　turned　and　run　down　near　the　side　of　the　fence。　But　Tom；
who　had　come　through　a　gap；　saw　me　and　waved　his　arm　shouting；　and
next　instant　Jack　and　Jill　saw　me　too。

Then　as　the　going　was　rough　by　the　fence　I　took　to　the　open　moor；
always　trying；　however；　to　work　round　to　the　left　in　the　hope　that　I
might　win　the　shelter　of　the　wood。

On　we　went　like　the　wind；　and　now　Jack　and　Jill　were　quite　close
behind　me；　though　before　they　got　there　I　had　managed　to　circle　so
that　at　last　my　head　pointed　to　the　wood；　which　was　more　than　half　a
mile　away。　Their　speed　was　greater　than　mine；　and　I　knew　that　I　must
soon　be　caught。

At　last　they　were　not　more　than　two　yards　behind；　and　for　the　first
time　I　twisted　so　that　they　overshot　me；　which　gave　me　another　start。
Three　times　they　came　up　and　three　times　I　wrenched　or　twisted。　The
wood　was　not　so　far　away　now；　but　I　was　almost　spent。

What　was　I　to　do！　What　was　I　to　do！　I　saw　a　clump　of　furze　to　the
left；　a　big　clump　and　thick；　and　remembered　that　there　was　a　hare's
run　through　it。　I　reached　it　just　as　Jill　was　on　the　top　of　me；　and
once　more　they　lost　sight　of　me　for　a　while　as　they　ran　round　the
clump　staring　and　jumping。　When　they　saw　me　again　on　the　further　side
I　was　thirty　yards　ahead　of　them　and　the　wood　was　perhaps　two　hundred
and　fifty　yards　away。　But　now　I　could　only　run　more　slowly；　for　my
heart　seemed　to　be　bursting；　though　luckily　Jack　and　Jill　were　getting
tired　also。　Still　they　soon　came　up；　and　now　I　must　twist　every　few
yards；　or　be　caught　in　their　jaws。

I　can't　tell　you　what　I　felt；　Mahatma；　and　until　you　have　been　hunted
by　greyhounds　you　will　never　know。　It　was　horrible。　Yet　I　managed　to
twist　and　jump　so　that　always　Jack　and　Jill　just　missed　me。　The
farmers　on　the　horses　laughed　to　see　my　desperate　leaps　and　wrenches。

But　Tom　did　worse　than　laugh。　Noting　that　I　was　getting　quite　near　the
wood；　he　rode　between　me　and　it；　trying　to　turn　me　into　the　open；　for
he　wished　to　see　me　killed。

〃Don't　do　that！　It　isn't　sportsmanlike；〃　shouted　the　Red…faced　Man。
〃Give　the　poor　beast　a　chance。〃

I　don't　know　whether　he　obeyed　or　not；　as　just　then　I　made　my　last
double；　and　felt　Jill's　teeth　cut　through　the　fur　of　my　scut　and　heard
them　snap。　I　had　dodged　Jill；　but　Jack　was　right　on　to　me　and　the　wood
still　twenty　yards　away。

I　could　not　twist　any　more；　it　was　just　which　of　us　could　get　there
first。　I　gathered　all　my　remaining　strength；　for　I　was　mad；　mad　with
terror；　and　bounded　forward。

After　me　came　Jack；　I　felt　his　hot　breath　on　my　flank。　I　jumped　the
ditch；　yes；　I　found　power　to　jump　that　ditch　where　there　was　a　rabbit
run　just　by　the　trunk　of　a　young　oak。　Jack　jumped　after　me；　we　must
both　have　been　in　the　air　at　the　same　time。　But　I　got　through　the
rabbit　run；　whereas　Jack　hit　his　sharp　nose　against　the　trunk　of　the
tree　and　broke　his　neck。　Yes；　he　fell　dead　into　the　ditch。

I　crawled　on　a　few　yards　to　a　thick　clump　and　squatted　down；　for　I
could　not　stir　another　inch。　So　it　came　about　that　I　heard　them　all
talking　on　the　other　side。

One　of　them　said　I　was　the　finest　hare　he　had　ever　coursed。　Others；
who　had　dragged　Jack　out　of　the　ditch；　lamented　his　death；　especially
the　owner；　who　vowed　that　he　was　worth　￡50　and　abused　Tom。　Tom；　he
said；　had　caused　him　to　be　killedI　don't　know　how；　but　I　suppose
because　he　had　ridden　forward　and　tried　to　turn　me。　The　Red…faced　Man
also　scolded　Tom。　Then　he　added

〃Well；　I　am　glad　she　got　off；　for　she'll　give　us　a　good　run　with　the
harriers　one　day。　I　shall　always　know　that　hare　again　by　the　white
marks　on　its　back；　also　it　is　the　biggest　I　have　seen　for　a　long
while。　Come　on；　my　friends；　the　dog　is　dead　and　there's　an　end　of　it。
At　least　we　have　had　a　good　morning's　sport；　so　let's　go　to　the　Hall
and　get　some　lunch。〃

*****

The　Hare　paused　for　a　little；　then　looked　up　at　me　in　its　comical
fashion　and　asked

〃Did　you　ever　course　hares；　Mahatma？〃

〃Not　I；　thank　goodness；〃　I　answered。

〃Well；　what　do　you　think　of　coursing？〃

〃I　would　rather　not　say；〃　I　replied。

〃Then　I　will；〃　said　the　Hare；　with　conviction。　〃I　think　it　horrible。〃

〃Yes；　but；　Hare；　you　do　not　remember　the　pleasure　this　sport　gives　to
the　men　and　the　dogs；　you　look　at　it　from　an　entirely　selfish　point　of
view。〃

〃And　so　would　you；　Mahatma；　if　you　had　felt　Jack's　hot　breath　on　your
back　and　Jill's　teeth　in　your　tail。〃



THE　HUNTING

The　Hare　sat　silent　for　a　time；　while　I　employed　myself　in　watching
certain　shadows　stream　past　us　on　the　Great　White　Road。　Among　them　was
that　of　a　politician　whom　I　had　much　admired　upon　the　earth。　In　this
land　of　Truth　I　was　grieved　to　observe　certain　characteristics　about
him　which　I　had　never　before