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time； that is if you live through the shooting。〃
〃What's the shooting？〃 I began； but my father cuffed me over the head
and I was silent。
I may tell you that my mother soon got over the loss of my brother；
for just about that time she had four new little ones； after which
neither she nor my father seemed to think any more about us。 My sister
and I hated those little ones。 We two alone remembered my brother； and
sometimes wondered whether he was quite gone or would one day come
back。 The fox； I am glad to say； got caught in a trap。 At least I am
not glad nowI was glad because； you see； I was so much afraid of
her。
THE SHOOTING
I was quite close by one morning when the fox； who was smelling about
after me； I suppose because it had liked my brother so much； got
caught in the big trap which was covered over artfully with earth and
baited with some stuff which stank horribly。 I remember it looked very
like my own hind…legs。 The fox； not being able to find me； went to
this filth and tried to eat it。
Then suddenly there was a dreadful fuss。 The fox yelped and flew into
the air。 I saw that a great black thing was fast on its forepaw。 How
that fox did jump and roll！ It was quite wonderful to see her。 She
looked like a great yellow ball； except for a lot of white marks about
the head； which were her teeth。 But the trap would not come away；
because it was tied to a root with a chain。
At last the fox grew tired and； lying down； began to think； licking
its paw as it thought and making a kind of moaning noise。 Next it
commenced gnawing at the root after trying the chain and finding that
its teeth would not go into it。 While it was doing this I heard the
sound of a man somewhere in the wood。 So did the fox； and oh！ it
looked so frightened。 It lay down panting； its tongue hanging out and
its ears pressed back against its head； and whisked its big tail from
side to side。 Then it began to gnaw again； but this time at its own
leg。 It wanted to bite it off and so get away。 I thought this very
brave of the fox； and though I hated it because it had eaten my
brother and tried to eat me； I felt quite sorry。
It was about half through its leg when the man came。 I remember that
he had a cat with a little red collar on its neck； and an owl in his
hand； both of them dead； for he was Giles； the head…keeper； going
round his traps。 He was a tall man with sandy whiskers and a rough
voice； and he carried a single…barrelled gun under his arm。
You see； now that I am dead I know the use of these things； just as I
understand all that was said； though of course at the time it had no
meaning for me。 Still I find that I have forgotten nothing； not one
word from the beginning of my life to the end。
The keeper； who was on his way to the place where he nailed the
creatures he did not like by dozens upon poles； looked down and saw
the fox。 〃Oh！ my beauty；〃 he said； 〃so I have got you at last。 Don't
you think yourself clever trying to bite off that leg。 You'd have done
it too； only I came along just in time。 Well； good night； old girl；
you won't have no more of my pheasants。〃
Then he lifted the gun。 There was a most dreadful noise and the fox
rolled over and lay still。
〃There you are； all neat and tidy； my dear；〃 said the keeper。 〃Now I
must just tuck you away in the hollow tree before old Grampus sneaks
round and sees you； for if he should it will be almost as much as my
place is worth。〃
Next he set his foot on the trap and； opening it； took hold of the fox
by the fore…legs to carry it off。 The cat and the owl he stuffed away
into a great pocket in his coat。
〃Jemima！ don't you wholly stink；〃 he said； then gave a most awful
yell。
The fox wasn't quite dead after all； it was only shamming dead。 At any
rate it got Giles' hand in its mouth and made its teeth meet through
the flesh。
Now the keeper began to jump about just as the fox had done when it
set its paw in the trap； shouting and saying all sorts of things that
somehow I don't think I ought to repeat here。 Round and round he went
with the fox hanging to his hand； like hares do when they dance
together； for he couldn't get it off anyhow。 At last he tumbled down
into a pool of mud and water； and when he got up again all wet through
I saw that the fox was really dead。 But it had died biting； and now I
know that this pleased it very much。
It was just then that the man whom the keeper had called Grampus came
up。 He was a big； fat man with a very red face； who made a kind of
blowing noise when he walked fast。 I know now that he was the lord of
all the other men about that place； that he lived in the house which
looked over the sea； and that the boy and girl who put me in with the
yellow…toothed rabbit were his children。 He was what the farmers
called 〃a first…rate all…round sportsman；〃 which means； my friendbut
what is your name？
〃Oh！ Mahatma；〃 I answered at hazard。
〃Which means； my friend Mahatma； that he spent most of the year in
killing the lower animals such as me。 Yes； he spent quite eight months
out of the twelve in killing us one way and another； for when there
was no more killing to be done in his own country； he would travel to
others and kill there。 He would even kill pigeons from a trap； or
young rooks just out of their nests； or rats in a stack； or sparrows
among ivy； rather than not kill anything。 I've heard Giles say so to
the under…keeper and call him 〃a regular slaughterer〃 and 〃a true…
blood Englishman。〃
Yet； my friend Mahatma； I say in the light of the truth which has come
to me； that according to his knowledge Grampus was a good man。 Thus；
what little time he had to spare from sport he passed in helping his
brother men by sending them to prison。 Although of course he never
worked or earned anything； he was very rich； because money flowed to
him from other people who had been very rich； but who at last were
forced to travel this Road and could not bring it with them。 If they
could have brought it； I am sure that Grampus would never have got
any。 However； he did get it； and he aided a great many people with
that part of it which he found he could not spend upon himself。 He was
a very good man； only he liked killing us lower creatures； whom he
bred up with his money to be killed。
〃Go on with your story； Hare；〃 I said； 〃when I see this Red…faced Man
I will judge of him for myself。 Probably you are prejudiced about
him。〃
〃I daresay I am；〃 answered the Hare； rubbing its nose； 〃but please
observe that I am not speaking unkindly of Grampus； although before I
have done you may think that I might have reason to do so。 However；
you will be able to form your own opinion when he comes here； which I
am sure he does not mean to do for many； many years。 The world is much
too comfortable for him。 He does not wish to leave it。〃
〃Still he may be obliged to do so； Hare。〃
〃Oh！ no； people like that are never obliged to do anything they do not
like。 It is only poor things such as you and I； Mahatma； which must
suffer。 I can see that you have had a great deal to bear； and so have
I； for we were born to suffering as the Red…faced Man was born to
happiness。〃
〃Go on with y