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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 b