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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 suspected。 It seemed to me； alas！ that