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because my footmarks did not smell in the water。 For quite a long time
they looked about till at length； taking a wide cast； the hounds found
my smell again at the end of the ditch。
During this check I was making the best of my way back towards my own
home； indeed had it not been for it I should have been caught and torn
to pieces much sooner than I was。 Thus it happened that I had covered
quite three miles before once more I heard those hounds baying behind
me。 This was just as I got on to the moorland； at that edge of it
which is about another three miles from the great house called the
Hall； which stands on the top of a cliff that slopes down to the beach
and the sea。
I had thought of making for the other wood； that in which I had saved
myself from the greyhounds when the beast Jack broke its neck against
the tree； but it was too far off； and the ground was so open that I
did not dare to try。
So I went straight on； heading towards the cliff。 Another mile and
they viewed me； for I heard Tom yell with delight as he stood up in
his stirrups on the black cob he was riding and waved his cap。 Jerry
the huntsman also stood up in his stirrups and waved his cap； and the
last awful hunt began。
I ranoh！ how I ran。 Once when they were nearly on me I managed to
check them for a minute in a hollow by getting among some sheep。 But
they soon found me again； and came after me at full tear not more than
a hundred yards behind。 In front of me I saw something that looked
like walls and bounded towards them with my last strength。 My heart
was bursting； my eyes and mouth seemed to be full of blood； but the
terror of being torn to pieces still gave me power to rush on almost
as quickly as though I had just been put off my form。 For as I have
told you； Mahatma； I am； or rather was； a very strong and swift hare。
I reached the walls； there was an open doorway in them through which I
fled； to find myself in a big garden。 Two gardeners saw me and shouted
loudly。 I flew on through some other doors； through a yard； and into a
passage where I met a woman carrying a pail； who shrieked and fell on
to her back。 I jumped over her and got into a big room； where was a
long table covered with white on which were all sorts of things that I
suppose men eat。 Out of that room I went into yet another； where a fat
woman with a hooked nose was seated holding something white in front
of her。 I bolted under the thing on which she was seated and lay
there。 She saw me come and began to shriek also； and presently a most
terrible noise arose outside。
All the spotted dogs were in the house； baying and barking； and
everybody was yelling。 Then for a minute the dogs stopped their
clamour； and I heard a great clatter of things breaking and of teeth
crunching and of the Red…faced Man shouting
〃Those cursed brutes are eating the hunt lunch。 Get them out； Jerry；
you idiot！ Get them out！ Great heavens！ what's the matter with her
Ladyship？ Is any one murdering her？〃
I suppose that they couldn't get them out； or at least when they did
they all came into the other room where I was under the seat on which
the fat woman was now standing。
〃What is it； mother？〃 I heard Tom say。
〃An animal！〃 she screamed。 〃An animal under the sofa！〃
〃All right；〃 he said； 〃that's only the hare。 Here； hounds； out with
her； hounds！〃
The dogs rushed about； some of them with great lumps of food still in
their mouths。 But they were confused； and all went into the wrong
places。 Everything began to fall with dreadful crashes； the fat woman
shrieked piercingly； and her shriek was
〃China！ Oh！ my china…a。 John； you wretch！ Help！ Help！ Help！〃
To which the Red…faced Man roared in answer
〃Don't be an infernal fool； Eliza…a。 I say； don't be such an infernal
fool。〃
Also there were lots of other noises that I cannot remember； except
one which a dog made。
This silly dog had thrust its head up the hole over a fire such as the
stops make outside the coverts when men are going to shoot； either to
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 ov