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land of Truth I was grieved to observe certain characteristics about
him which I had never before suspected。 It seemed to me； alas！ that in
his mundane career he had not been so entirely influenced by a single…
hearted desire for the welfare of our country as he had proclaimed and
I had believed。 I gathered even that his own interests had sometimes
inspired his policy。
He went by； leaving； so far as I was concerned； a somewhat painful
impression from which I sought relief in the company of the open…
souled Hare。
〃Well；〃 I said； 〃I suppose that you died of exhaustion after your
coursing experience； and came on here。〃
〃Died of exhaustion； Mahatma； not a bit of it！ In three days I was as
well as ever； only much more cunning than I had been before。 In the
night I fed in the fields upon whatever I could get； but in the
daytime I always lay up in woods。 This I did because I found out the
shooting was over； and I knew that greyhounds； which run by sight；
would never come into woods。
The weeks went by and the days began to lengthen。 Pretty yellow
flowers that I had not seen before appeared in the woods； and I ate
plenty of them； they have a nice flavour。 Then I met another hare and
loved her； because she reminded me of my sister。 We used to play about
together and were very happy。 I wonder what she will do now that I am
gone。〃
〃Console herself with somebody else；〃 I suggested sarcastically。
〃No； she won't do that； Mahatma； because the hounds 'chopped' her just
outside the Round Plantation。 I mean they caught and ate her。 You
think that I am contradicting myself； but I am not。 I mean I wonder
what she will do without me in whatever world she has reached； for I
don't see her here。 Well； I went to the little Round Plantation
because I found that Giles seldom came there and I thought it would be
safer； but as it proved I made a great mistake。 One day there appeared
the Red…faced Man and Tom and the girl； Ella； and a lot of other
people mounted on horses； some of them dressed in green coats with
ridiculous…looking caps on their heads。
Also with them were I don't know how many spotted dogs whose tails
curled over their backs； not like greyhounds whose tails curl between
their legs。 Outside of the Plantation those dogs caught and ate my
future wife； as I have said。 It was her own fault； for I had warned
her not to go there； but she was a very self…willed character。 As it
was she never even gave them a run； for they were all round her in a
minute。 Then they made a kind of cartwheel； their heads were in the
centre of this cartwheel and their tails pointed out。 In its exact
middle was my future wife。
When the wheel broke up there was nothing of her left except her scut；
which lay upon the ground。
I had seen so many of such things that I was not so much shocked as
you might suppose。 After all a fine hare like myself could always get
another wife； and as I have told you she was very self…willed。
So I lay still； thinking that those men and dogs would go away。
But what do you think Mahatma？ Just as they were going the boy Tom
called out
〃I say； Dad； I think we might as well knock through the Round
Plantation。 Giles tells me that the old speckle…backed buck lies up
here。〃
〃Does he？〃 said Grampus。 〃Well； if so； that's the hare I want to see；
for I know he'd give us a good run。 Here； Jerry〃 （Jerry was the
huntsman）； 〃just put the hounds into that place。〃
So Jerry put the hounds in； making dreadful noises to encourage them；
and of course I came out； as I did not wish to share the fate of my
future wife。
〃That's him！〃 screeched Tom。 〃Look at the grey marks on his back。〃
〃Yes； that's he right enough；〃 shouted the Red…faced Man。 〃Lay them
on； Jerry； lay them on； we're in for a rattling run now； I'll
warrant。〃
So they were laid on and I went away as hard as my legs would carry
me。 Very soon I found that I had left all those curly…tailed dogs a
long way behind。
〃Ah！〃 I said to myself proudly； 〃these beasts are not greyhounds； they
are like Giles's retriever and the sheep dog。 They'll never see me
again。 So I looped along saving my breath and heading for a wood which
was quite five miles off that I had once visited from the Marsh on the
sea…shore where I lay sick； for I was sure they would never follow me
there。
You can imagine； then； Mahatma； how surprised I was when I drew near
that wood to hear a hideous noise of dogs all barking together behind
me； and on looking back； to see those spotted brutes； with their
tongues hanging out； coming along quite close to each other and not
more than a quarter of a mile away。
Moreover they were coming after me。 I was sure of that； for the first
of them kept setting its nose to the ground just where I had run； and
then lifting up its head to bay。 Yes； they were coming on my scent。
They could smell me as Giles's curly dog smells the wounded
partridges。 My heart sank at the thought； but presently I remembered
that the wood was quite close； and that there I should certainly give
them the slip。
So I went on quite cheerfully； not even running as fast as I could。
But fortune was against me； as everything has always been； for I never
found a friend。 I ran along the side of a hedgerow which went quite up
to the wood； not knowing that at the end of it three men were engaged
in cutting down an oak tree。 You see； Mahatma； they had caught sight
of the hunt and stopped from their work； so that I did not hear the
sound of their axes upon the tree。 Nor； as my head was so near the
ground； did I see them until I was right on to them； at which moment
also they saw me。
〃Here she is！〃 yelled one of them。 〃Keep her out of covert or they'll
lose her；〃 and he threw out his arms and began to jump about； as did
the other two。
I pulled up short within three or four yards of them。 Behind were the
dogs and the people galloping upon horses and in front were the three
men。 What was I to do？ Now I had stopped exactly in a gateway； for a
lane ran alongside the wood。 After a moment's pause I bolted through
the gateway； thinking that I would get into the wood beyond。 But one
of the men； who of course wanted to see me killed； was too quick for
me and there headed me again。
Then I lost my senses。 Instead of running on past him and leaping into
the wood； I swung right round and rushed back； still clinging to the
hedgerow。 Indeed as I went down one side of it the hounds and the
hunters came up on the other； so that there were only a few sticks
between us； though fortunately the wind was blowing from them to me。
Fearing lest they should see me I jumped into the ditch and ran for
quite two hundred yards through the mud and water that was gathered
there。 Then I had to come out of it again as it ended but here was a
fall in the ground； so still I was not seen。
Meanwhile the hunt had reached the three men and I heard them all
talking together。 The end of it was that the men explained which way I
had gone； and once more the hounds were laid on to me。 In a minute
they got to where I had entered the ditch； and there grew confused
because my footmarks did not smell in the water。 For quite a long time
they