the mahatma and the hare-第9章

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hide　something　or　to　look　for　me　there。　When　it　came　down　again
because　the　Red…faced　Man　kicked　it；　the　dog　put　its　paws　into　the
fire　and　pulled　it　all　out　over　the　floor。　Also　it　howled　very
beautifully。　Just　then　another　hound；　that　one　which　generally　led　the
pack；　began　to　sniff　about　near　me　and　finally　poked　its　nose　under
the　stuff　which　hid　me。

It　jumped　back　and　bayed；　whereon　I　jumped　out　the　other　side。　Tom
made　a　rush　at　me　and　knocked　the　fat　woman　off　the　thing　she　was
standing　on；　so　that　she　fell　among　the　dogs；　which　covered　her　up　and
began　to　sniff　her　all　over。　Flying　from　Tom　I　found　myself　in　front
of　something　filmy；　beyond　which　I　saw　grass。　It　looked　suspicious；
but　as　nothing　in　the　world　could　be　so　bad　as　Tom；　no；　not　even　his
dogs；　I　jumped　at　it。

There　was　a　crash　and　a　sharp　point　cut　my　nose；　but　I　was　out　upon
the　grass。　Then　there　were　twenty　other　crashes；　and　all　the　hounds
were　out　too；　for　Tom　had　cheered　them　on。　I　ran　to　the　edge　of　the
lawn　and　saw　a　steep　slope　leading　to　the　sands　and　the　sea。　Now　I
knew　what　the　sea　was；　for　after　Tom　had　shot　me　in　the　back　I　lived
by　it　for　a　long　while；　and　once　swam　across　a　little　creek　to　get　to
my　form；　from　which　it　cut　me　off。

While　I　ran　down　that　slope　fast　as　my　aching　legs　would　carry　me；　I
made　up　my　mind　that　I　would　swim　out　into　the　sea　and　drown　there；
since　it　is　better　to　drown　than　to　be　torn　to　pieces。　But　why　are　you
laughing；　friend　Mahatma。〃

〃I　am　not　laughing；〃　I　said。　〃In　this　state；　without　a　body；　I　have
nothing　to　laugh　with。　Still　you　are　right；　for　you　see　that　I　should
be　laughing　if　I　could。　Your　story　of　the　stout　lady　and　the　dogs　and
the　china　is　very　amusing。〃

〃Perhaps；　friend；　but　it　did　not　amuse　me。　Nothing　is　amusing　when　one
is　going　to　be　eaten　alive。〃

〃Of　course　it　isn't；〃　I　answered。　〃Please　forgive　me　and　go　on。〃

〃Well；　I　tumbled　down　that　cliff；　followed　by　some　of　the　dogs　and　Tom
and　the　girl　Ella　and　the　huntsman　Jerry　on　foot；　and　dragged　myself
across　the　sands　till　I　came　to　the　lip　of　the　sea。

Just　here　there　was　a　boat　and　by　it　stood　Giles　the　keeper。　He　had
come　there　to　get　out　of　the　way　of　the　hunting；　which　he　hated　as
much　as　he　did　the　coursing。　The　sight　of　him　settled　meinto　the　sea
I　went。　The　dogs　wanted　to　follow　me；　but　Jerry　called　and　whipped
them　off。

〃I　won't　have　them　caught　in　the　current　and　drowned；〃　he　said。　〃Let
the　flea…bitten　old　devil　go；　she's　brought　trouble　enough　already。〃

〃Help　me　shove　off　the　boat；　Giles；〃　shouted　Tom。　〃She　shan't　beat　us；
we　must　have　her　for　the　hounds。　Come　on；　Ella。〃

〃Best　leave　her　alone；　Master　Tom；〃　said　Giles。　〃I　think　she's　an
unlucky　one；　that　I　do。〃

Still　the　end　of　it　was　that　he　helped　to　float　the　little　boat　and
got　into　it　with　Tom　and　Ella。

Just　after　they　had　pushed　off　I　saw　a　man　running　down　the　steps　on
the　cliff　waving　his　arms　while　he　called　out　something。　But　of　him
they　took　no　heed。　I　do　not　think　they　noticed　him。　As　for　me；　I　swam
on。

I　could　not　go　very　fast　because　I　was　so　dreadfully　tired；　also　I　did
not　like　swimming；　and　the　cold　waves　broke　over　my　head；　making　the
cut　in　my　nose　smart　and　filling　my　eyes　with　something　that　stung
them。　I　could　not　see　far　either；　nor　did　I　know　where　I　was　going。　I
knew　nothing　except　I　was　about　to　die；　and　that　soon　everything　would
be　at　an　end；　men；　dogseverything；　yes；　even　Tom。　I　wanted　things　to
come　to　an　end。　I　had　suffered　so　dreadfully；　life　was　so　horrible；　I
was　so　very　tired。　I　felt　that　it　was　better　to　die　and　have　done。

So　I　swam　on　a　long　way　and　began　to　forget　things；　indeed　I　thought
that　I　was　playing　in　the　big　turnip　field　with　my　mother　and　sister。
But　just　as　I　was　sinking　exhausted　a　hand　shot　down　into　the　water
and　caught　me　by　the　ears；　although　from　below　the　fingers　looked　as
though　they　were　bending　away　from　me。　I　saw　it　coming　and　tried　to
sink　more　quickly；　but　could　not。

〃I've　got　her；〃　said　the　voice　of　Tom　gleefully。　〃My！　isn't　she　a
beauty？　Over　nine　pounds　if　she　is　an　ounce。　Only　just　in　time；
though；〃　he　went　on；　〃for；　look！　she's　drowning；　her　head　wobbles　as
though　she　were　sea…sick。　Buck　up；　pussie；　buck　up！　You　mustn't　cheat
the　hounds　at　last；　you　know。　It　wouldn't　be　sportsmanlike；　and　they
hate　dead　hares。〃

Then　he　held　me　by　my　hind　legs　to　drain　the　water　out　of　me；　and
afterwards　began　to　blow　down　my　nose；　I　did　not　know　why。

〃Don't　do　that；　Tom；〃　said　Ella　sharply。　〃It's　nasty。〃

〃Must　keep　the　life　in　her　somehow；〃　answered　Tom；　and　went　on
blowing。

〃Master　Tom；〃　interrupted　Giles；　who　was　rowing　the　boat。　〃I　ain't
particular；　but　I　wish　you'd　leave　that　there　hare　alone。　Somehow　I
thinks　there's　bad　news　in　its　eye。　Who　knows？　P'raps　the　little　devil
feels。　Any　way；　it's　a　rum　one；　its　swimming　out　to　sea。　I　never　see'd
a　hunted　hare　do　that　afore。〃

〃Bosh！〃　said　Tom；　and　continued　his　blowing。

We　reached　the　shore　and　Tom　jumped　out　of　the　boat；　holding　me　by　the
ears。　The　hounds　were　all　on　the　beach；　most　of　them　lying　down；　for
they　were　very　tired；　but　the　men　were　standing　in　a　knot　at　a
distance　talking　earnestly；　Tom　ran　to　the　hounds；　crying　out

〃Here　she　is；　my　beauties；　here　she　is！〃　whereon　they　got　up　and　began
to　bay。　Then　he　held　me　above　them。

〃Master　Tom；〃　I　heard　Jerry's　voice　say；　〃for　God's　sake　let　that　hare
go　and　listen；　Master　Tom；〃　and　the　girl　Ella；　who　of　a　sudden　had
begun　to　sob；　tried　to　pull　him　back。

But　he　was　mad　to　see　me　bitten　to　death　and　eaten；　and　until　he　had
done　so　would　attend　to　no　one。　He　only　shouted；　〃Onetwothree！
Now；　hounds！　/Worry；　worry；　worry！/〃

Then　he　threw　me　into　the　air　above　the　red　throats　and　gnashing　teeth
which　leapt　up　towards　me。

*****

The　Hare　paused；　but　added；　〃Did　you　tell　me；　friend　Mahatma；　that　you
had　never　been　torn　to　pieces　by　hounds；　'broken　up；'　I　believe　they
call　it？〃

〃Yes；　I　did；〃　I　answered；　〃and　what　is　more　I　shall　be　obliged　if　you
will　not　dwell　upon　the　subject。〃



THE　COMING　OF　THE　RED…FACED　MAN

〃As　you　like；〃　said　the　Hare。　〃Certainly　it　was　very　dreadful。　It
seemed　to　last　a　long　time。　But　I　don't　mind　it　so　much　now；　for　I
feel　that　it　can　never　happen　to　me　again。　At　least　I　hope　it　can't；
for　I　don't　know　what　I　have　done　to　deserve　such　a　fate；　any　more
than　I　know　why　it　should　have　happened　to　me　once。〃

〃Something　you　did　in　a　previous　existence；　perhaps；〃　I　answered。　〃You
see　then　you　may　have　hunted　other　creatures　so　cruelly　that　at　last
your　turn　came　to　suffer　what　you　had　made　them　suffer。　I　often　think
that　because　of　what　we　have　done　before　we　men　are　also　really　being
hunted　by　something　we　cannot　see。〃

〃Ah！〃　exclaimed　the　Hare；　〃I　never　thought　of　that。　I　hope　it　is　true；
for　it　makes　things　seem　juster　and　less　wicked。　But　I　say；　friend
Mahatma；　what　am　I　doing　here　now；　where　you　tell　me　poor　creatures
with　four　feet　never；　or　hardly　ever　come？〃

〃I　don't　know；　Hare。　I　am　not　wise；　to　whom　it　is　only　granted　to
visit　the　Road　occasionally　to　search　for　some　one。〃

〃I　understand；　Mahatma；　but　still　you　must　know　a　great　deal　or　you
would　not　be　allowed　in　such　a　place　before　your　time；　or　at　any　rate
you　must　be　able　to　guess　a　great　deal。　So　tell　me；　why　do　you　think
that　I　am　here？〃

〃I　can't　say；　Hare；　I　can't　indeed。　Perhaps　after　the　Gates　are　open
and　your　Guardian　has　given　you　to　drink　of　the　Cup；　you　will　go　to
sleep　and　wake　up　again　as　something　else。〃

〃To　drink　of　the　cup；　Mahatma？　I　don't　drink；　at　least　I　didn't；
though　I　can't　tell　what　may　happen　here。　But　what　do　you　mean　about
waking　up　as　something　else？　Please　be　more　plain。　As　what　else？〃

〃Oh！　who　can　know？　Possibly　as　you　are　on　the　human　Road　you　might
even　become　a　man　some　day；　though　I　should　not　advise　you　to　build　on
such　a　hope　as　that。〃

〃What　do　you　say；　Mahatma？　A　man！　One　of　those　two…legged　beasts　that
hunt　hares；　a　thing　like　Giles　and　Tomyes；　Tom？　Oh！　not　thatnot
that！　I'd　almost　rather　go　through　everything　again　than　become　a
cruel；　torturing　man。〃

As　it　spoke　thus　the　Hare　grew　so　disturbed　that　it　nearly　vanished；
literally　it　seemed　to　melt　away　till　I　could　only　perceive　its
outline。　With　a　kind　of　shock　I　comprehended　all　the　horror　that　it
must　feel　at　such　a　prospect　as　I　had　suggested　to　it；　and　really　this
grasping　of　the　truth　hurt　my　human　pride。　It　had　never　come　home　to
me　before　that　the　circumstances　of　their　livesand　deathsmust
cause　some　creatures　to　see　us　in　strange　lights。

〃Oh！　I　have　no　doubt　I　was　mistaken；〃　I　said　hurriedly；　〃and　that　your
wishes　on　the　point　will　be　respected。　I　told　you　that　I　know
nothing。〃

At　these　words　the　Hare　became　quite　visible　again。

It　sat　up　and　very　reflectively　began　to　rub　its　still　shadowy　nose
with　a　shadowy　paw。　I　think　that　it　remembered　the　sting　of　the　salt
water　in　the　cut　made　by　the　glass　of　the　window　through　which　it　had
sprung。

Believing　that　its　remarkable　story　was　done；　and　that　presently　it
would　altogether　melt　away　and　vanish　out　of　my　knowledge；　I　looked
about　me。　First　I　looked　above　the　towering　Gates　to　see　whether　the
Lights　had　yet　begun　to　change。　Then　as　they　had　not　I　looked　down　the
Great　White　Road；　following　it　for　miles　and　miles；　until　even　to　my
spirit　sight　it　lost　itself　in　the　Nowhere。

Presently　coming　up　this　Road　towards　us　I　saw　a　man　dressed　in　a
green　coat；　riding…breeches　and　boots　and　a　peaked　cap；　who　held　in
his　hand　a　hunting…whip。　He　was　a　fine…looking　person　of　middle　age；
with　a　pleasant；　open　countenance；　bright　blue　eyes；　and　very　red
cheeks；　on　which　he　wore　light…coloured　whiskers。　In　short　a　jovial…
looking　individual；　with　whom　things　had　evidently　always　gone　well；
one　to　whom　sorrow　and　disappointment　and　mental　struggle　were　utter
strangers。　He；　at　least；　had　never　known　what　it　is　to　〃endure
hardness〃　in　all　his　life。

Studying　his　nature　as　one　can　do　on　the　Road；　I　perceived　also　that
in　him　there　was　no　guile。　He　was　a　good…minded；　God…fearing　man
according　to　his　simple　lights；　who　had　done　many　kindnesses　and
contributed　liberally　towards　the　wants　of　the　poor；　though　as　he　had
been　very　rich；　it　had　cost　him　little　thus　to　gratify　the　natural
promptings　of　his　heart。

Moreover　he　was　what　Jorsen　calls　a　〃young　soul；〃　quite　young　indeed；
by　which　I　mean　that　he　had　not　often　walked　the　Road　in　previous
states　of　life；　as　for　instance　that　Eastern　woman　had　done　who
accosted　me　before　the　arrival　of　the　Hare。　So　to　speak　his　crude
nature　had　scarcely　outgrown　the　primitive　human　condition　in　which
necessity　as　well　as　taste　make　it　customary　and　pleasant　to　men　to
kill；　that　condition　through　which　almost　every　boy　passes　on　his　way
to　manhood；　I　suppose　by　the　working　of　some　secret　law　of
reminiscence。

It　was　this　thought　that　first　led　me　to　connect　the　new…comer　with
the　Red…faced　Man　of　the　Hare's　story。　It　may　seem　strange　that　I
should　have　been　so　dense；　but　the　truth　is　that　it　never　occurred　to
me；　any　more　than　it　had　done　to　the　Hare；　that　such　a　person　would　be
at　all　likely　to　tread　the　Road　for　many　years　to　come。　I　had　gathered
that　he　was