TheHarepausedforalittle，thenlookedupatmeinitscomicalfashionandasked——
"Didyouevercoursehares，Mahatma？"
"NotI，thankgoodness，"Ianswered。
"Well，whatdoyouthinkofcoursing？"
"Iwouldrathernotsay，"Ireplied。
"ThenIwill，"saidtheHare，withconviction。"Ithinkithorrible。"
"Yes，but，Hare，youdonotrememberthepleasurethissportgivestothemenandthedogs；youlookatitfromanentirelyselfishpointofview。"
"Andsowouldyou，Mahatma，ifyouhadfeltJack’shotbreathonyourbackandJill’steethinyourtail。"
THEHUNTING
TheHaresatsilentforatime，whileIemployedmyselfinwatchingcertainshadowsstreampastusontheGreatWhiteRoad。AmongthemwasthatofapoliticianwhomIhadmuchadmiredupontheearth。InthislandofTruthIwasgrievedtoobservecertaincharacteristicsabouthimwhichIhadneverbeforesuspected。Itseemedtome，alas！thatinhismundanecareerhehadnotbeensoentirelyinfluencedbyasingle-
hearteddesireforthewelfareofourcountryashehadproclaimedandIhadbelieved。Igatheredeventhathisowninterestshadsometimesinspiredhispolicy。
Hewentby，leaving，sofarasIwasconcerned，asomewhatpainfulimpressionfromwhichIsoughtreliefinthecompanyoftheopen-
souledHare。
"Well，"Isaid，"Isupposethatyoudiedofexhaustionafteryourcoursingexperience，andcameonhere。"
"Diedofexhaustion，Mahatma，notabitofit！InthreedaysIwasaswellasever，onlymuchmorecunningthanIhadbeenbefore。InthenightIfedinthefieldsuponwhateverIcouldget，butinthedaytimeIalwayslayupinwoods。ThisIdidbecauseIfoundouttheshootingwasover，andIknewthatgreyhounds，whichrunbysight，wouldnevercomeintowoods。
Theweekswentbyandthedaysbegantolengthen。PrettyyellowflowersthatIhadnotseenbeforeappearedinthewoods，andIateplentyofthem；theyhaveaniceflavour。ThenImetanotherhareandlovedher，becausesheremindedmeofmysister。Weusedtoplayabouttogetherandwereveryhappy。IwonderwhatshewilldonowthatIamgone。"
"Consoleherselfwithsomebodyelse，"Isuggestedsarcastically。
"No，shewon’tdothat，Mahatma，becausethehounds’chopped’herjustoutsidetheRoundPlantation。Imeantheycaughtandateher。YouthinkthatIamcontradictingmyself，butIamnot。ImeanIwonderwhatshewilldowithoutmeinwhateverworldshehasreached，forI
don’tseeherhere。Well，IwenttothelittleRoundPlantationbecauseIfoundthatGilesseldomcamethereandIthoughtitwouldbesafer，butasitprovedImadeagreatmistake。OnedaythereappearedtheRed-facedManandTomandthegirl，Ella，andalotofotherpeoplemountedonhorses，someofthemdressedingreencoatswithridiculous-lookingcapsontheirheads。
AlsowiththemwereIdon’tknowhowmanyspotteddogswhosetailscurledovertheirbacks，notlikegreyhoundswhosetailscurlbetweentheirlegs。OutsideofthePlantationthosedogscaughtandatemyfuturewife，asIhavesaid。Itwasherownfault，forIhadwarnedhernottogothere，butshewasaveryself-willedcharacter。Asitwassheneverevengavethemarun，fortheywereallroundherinaminute。Thentheymadeakindofcartwheel；theirheadswereinthecentreofthiscartwheelandtheirtailspointedout。Initsexactmiddlewasmyfuturewife。
Whenthewheelbrokeuptherewasnothingofherleftexceptherscut，whichlayupontheground。
IhadseensomanyofsuchthingsthatIwasnotsomuchshockedasyoumightsuppose。Afterallafineharelikemyselfcouldalwaysgetanotherwife，andasIhavetoldyoushewasveryself-willed。
SoIlaystill，thinkingthatthosemenanddogswouldgoaway。
ButwhatdoyouthinkMahatma？JustastheyweregoingtheboyTomcalledout——
"Isay，Dad，IthinkwemightaswellknockthroughtheRoundPlantation。Gilestellsmethattheoldspeckle-backedbuckliesuphere。"
"Doeshe？"saidGrampus。"Well，ifso，that’sthehareIwanttosee，forIknowhe’dgiveusagoodrun。Here，Jerry"（Jerrywasthehuntsman），"justputthehoundsintothatplace。"
SoJerryputthehoundsin，makingdreadfulnoisestoencouragethem，andofcourseIcameout，asIdidnotwishtosharethefateofmyfuturewife。
"That’shim！"screechedTom。"Lookatthegreymarksonhisback。"
"Yes，that’sherightenough，"shoutedtheRed-facedMan。"Laythemon，Jerry，laythemon；we’reinforarattlingrunnow，I’llwarrant。"
SotheywerelaidonandIwentawayashardasmylegswouldcarryme。VerysoonIfoundthatIhadleftallthosecurly-taileddogsalongwaybehind。
"Ah！"Isaidtomyselfproudly，"thesebeastsarenotgreyhounds；theyarelikeGiles’sretrieverandthesheepdog。They’llneverseemeagain。SoIloopedalongsavingmybreathandheadingforawoodwhichwasquitefivemilesoffthatIhadoncevisitedfromtheMarshonthesea-shorewhereIlaysick，forIwassuretheywouldneverfollowmethere。
Youcanimagine，then，Mahatma，howsurprisedIwaswhenIdrewnearthatwoodtohearahideousnoiseofdogsallbarkingtogetherbehindme，andonlookingback，toseethosespottedbrutes，withtheirtongueshangingout，comingalongquiteclosetoeachotherandnotmorethanaquarterofamileaway。
Moreovertheywerecomingafterme。Iwassureofthat，forthefirstofthemkeptsettingitsnosetothegroundjustwhereIhadrun，andthenliftingupitsheadtobay。Yes，theywerecomingonmyscent。
TheycouldsmellmeasGiles’scurlydogsmellsthewoundedpartridges。Myheartsankatthethought，butpresentlyIrememberedthatthewoodwasquiteclose，andthatthereIshouldcertainlygivethemtheslip。
SoIwentonquitecheerfully，notevenrunningasfastasIcould。
Butfortunewasagainstme，aseverythinghasalwaysbeen，forIneverfoundafriend。Iranalongthesideofahedgerowwhichwentquiteuptothewood，notknowingthatattheendofitthreemenwereengagedincuttingdownanoaktree。Yousee，Mahatma，theyhadcaughtsightofthehuntandstoppedfromtheirwork，sothatIdidnothearthesoundoftheiraxesuponthetree。Nor，asmyheadwassoneartheground，didIseethemuntilIwasrightontothem，atwhichmomentalsotheysawme。
"Heresheis！"yelledoneofthem。"Keepheroutofcovertorthey’llloseher，"andhethrewouthisarmsandbegantojumpabout，asdidtheothertwo。
Ipulledupshortwithinthreeorfouryardsofthem。Behindwerethedogsandthepeoplegallopinguponhorsesandinfrontwerethethreemen。WhatwasItodo？NowIhadstoppedexactlyinagateway，foralaneranalongsidethewood。Afteramoment’spauseIboltedthroughthegateway，thinkingthatIwouldgetintothewoodbeyond。Butoneofthemen，whoofcoursewantedtoseemekilled，wastooquickformeandthereheadedmeagain。
ThenIlostmysenses。Insteadofrunningonpasthimandleapingintothewood，Iswungrightroundandrushedback，stillclingingtothehedgerow。IndeedasIwentdownonesideofitthehoundsandthehunterscameupontheother，sothattherewereonlyafewsticksbetweenus，thoughfortunatelythewindwasblowingfromthemtome。
FearinglesttheyshouldseemeIjumpedintotheditchandranforquitetwohundredyardsthroughthemudandwaterthatwasgatheredthere。ThenIhadtocomeoutofitagainasitendedbutherewasafallintheground，sostillIwasnotseen。
MeanwhilethehunthadreachedthethreemenandIheardthemalltalkingtogether。TheendofitwasthatthemenexplainedwhichwayI
hadgone，andoncemorethehoundswerelaidontome。InaminutetheygottowhereIhadenteredtheditch，andtheregrewconfusedbecausemyfootmarksdidnotsmellinthewater。Forquitealongtimetheylookedabouttillatlength，takingawidecast，thehoundsfoundmysmellagainattheendoftheditch。
DuringthischeckIwasmakingthebestofmywaybacktowardsmyownhome；indeedhaditnotbeenforitIshouldhavebeencaughtandtorntopiecesmuchsoonerthanIwas。ThusithappenedthatIhadcoveredquitethreemilesbeforeoncemoreIheardthosehoundsbayingbehindme。ThiswasjustasIgotontothemoorland，atthatedgeofitwhichisaboutanotherthreemilesfromthegreathousecalledtheHall，whichstandsonthetopofacliffthatslopesdowntothebeachandthesea。
Ihadthoughtofmakingfortheotherwood，thatinwhichIhadsavedmyselffromthegreyhoundswhenthebeastJackbrokeitsneckagainstthetree，butitwastoofaroff，andthegroundwassoopenthatI
didnotdaretotry。
SoIwentstraighton，headingtowardsthecliff。Anothermileandtheyviewedme，forIheardTomyellwithdelightashestoodupinhisstirrupsontheblackcobhewasridingandwavedhiscap。Jerrythehuntsmanalsostoodupinhisstirrupsandwavedhiscap，andthelastawfulhuntbegan。
Iran——oh！howIran。OncewhentheywerenearlyonmeImanagedtocheckthemforaminuteinahollowbygettingamongsomesheep。Buttheysoonfoundmeagain，andcameaftermeatfulltearnotmorethanahundredyardsbehind。InfrontofmeIsawsomethingthatlookedlikewallsandboundedtowardsthemwithmylaststrength。Myheartwasbursting，myeyesandmouthseemedtobefullofblood，buttheterrorofbeingtorntopiecesstillgavemepowertorushonalmostasquicklyasthoughIhadjustbeenputoffmyform。ForasIhavetoldyou，Mahatma，Iam，orratherwas，averystrongandswifthare。
Ireachedthewalls；therewasanopendoorwayinthemthroughwhichI
fled，tofindmyselfinabiggarden。Twogardenerssawmeandshoutedloudly。Iflewonthroughsomeotherdoors，throughayard，andintoapassagewhereImetawomancarryingapail，whoshriekedandfellontoherback。Ijumpedoverherandgotintoabigroom，wherewasalongtablecoveredwithwhiteonwhichwereallsortsofthingsthatI
supposemeneat。OutofthatroomIwentintoyetanother，whereafatwomanwithahookednosewasseatedholdingsomethingwhiteinfrontofher。Iboltedunderthethingonwhichshewasseatedandlaythere。Shesawmecomeandbegantoshriekalso，andpresentlyamostterriblenoisearoseoutside。
Allthespotteddogswereinthehouse，bayingandbarking，andeverybodywasyelling。Thenforaminutethedogsstoppedtheirclamour，andIheardagreatclatterofthingsbreakingandofteethcrunchingandoftheRed-facedManshouting——
"Thosecursedbrutesareeatingthehuntlunch。Getthemout，Jerry，youidiot！Getthemout！Greatheavens！what’sthematterwithherLadyship？Isanyonemurderingher？"
Isupposethattheycouldn’tgetthemout，oratleastwhentheydidtheyallcameintotheotherroomwhereIwasundertheseatonwhichthefatwomanwasnowstanding。
"Whatisit，mother？"IheardTomsay。
"Ananimal！"shescreamed。"Ananimalunderthesofa！"
"Allright，"hesaid，"that’sonlythehare。Here，hounds，outwithher，hounds！"
Thedogsrushedabout，someofthemwithgreatlumpsoffoodstillintheirmouths。Buttheywereconfused，andallwentintothewrongplaces。Everythingbegantofallwithdreadfulcrashes，thefatwomanshriekedpiercingly，andhershriekwas——
"China！Oh！mychina-a。John，youwretch！Help！Help！Help！"
TowhichtheRed-facedManroaredinanswer——
"Don’tbeaninfernalfool，Eliza-a。Isay，don’tbesuchaninfernalfool。"
AlsotherewerelotsofothernoisesthatIcannotremember，exceptonewhichadogmade。
Thissillydoghadthrustitsheaduptheholeoverafiresuchasthestopsmakeoutsidethecovertswhenmenaregoingtoshoot，eithertohidesomethingortolookformethere。WhenitcamedownagainbecausetheRed-facedMankickedit，thedogputitspawsintothefireandpulleditalloutoverthefloor。Alsoithowledverybeautifully。Justthenanotherhound，thatonewhichgenerallyledthepack，begantosniffaboutnearmeandfinallypokeditsnoseunderthestuffwhichhidme。
Itjumpedbackandbayed，whereonIjumpedouttheotherside。Tommadearushatmeandknockedthefatwomanoffthethingshewasstandingon，sothatshefellamongthedogs，whichcoveredherupandbegantosniffherallover。FlyingfromTomIfoundmyselfinfrontofsomethingfilmy，beyondwhichIsawgrass。Itlookedsuspicious，butasnothingintheworldcouldbesobadasTom，no，notevenhisdogs，Ijumpedatit。
Therewasacrashandasharppointcutmynose，butIwasoutuponthegrass。Thenthereweretwentyothercrashes，andallthehoundswereouttoo，forTomhadcheeredthemon。Irantotheedgeofthelawnandsawasteepslopeleadingtothesandsandthesea。NowI
knewwhattheseawas，forafterTomhadshotmeinthebackIlivedbyitforalongwhile，andonceswamacrossalittlecreektogettomyform，fromwhichitcutmeoff。
WhileIrandownthatslopefastasmyachinglegswouldcarryme，I
madeupmymindthatIwouldswimoutintotheseaanddrownthere，sinceitisbettertodrownthantobetorntopieces。Butwhyareyoulaughing，friendMahatma。"
"Iamnotlaughing，"Isaid。"Inthisstate，withoutabody，Ihavenothingtolaughwith。Stillyouareright，foryouseethatIshouldbelaughingifIcould。Yourstoryofthestoutladyandthedogsandthechinaisveryamusing。"
"Perhaps，friend，butitdidnotamuseme。Nothingisamusingwhenoneisgoingtobeeatenalive。"
"Ofcourseitisn’t，"Ianswered。"Pleaseforgivemeandgoon。"
"Well，Itumbleddownthatcliff，followedbysomeofthedogsandTomandthegirlEllaandthehuntsmanJerryonfoot，anddraggedmyselfacrossthesandstillIcametothelipofthesea。
JustheretherewasaboatandbyitstoodGilesthekeeper。Hehadcometheretogetoutofthewayofthehunting，whichhehatedasmuchashedidthecoursing。Thesightofhimsettledme——intotheseaIwent。Thedogswantedtofollowme，butJerrycalledandwhippedthemoff。
"Iwon’thavethemcaughtinthecurrentanddrowned，"hesaid。"Lettheflea-bittenolddevilgo，she’sbroughttroubleenoughalready。"
"Helpmeshoveofftheboat，Giles，"shoutedTom。"Sheshan’tbeatus；
wemusthaveherforthehounds。Comeon，Ella。"
"Bestleaveheralone，MasterTom，"saidGiles。"Ithinkshe’sanunluckyone，thatIdo。"
StilltheendofitwasthathehelpedtofloatthelittleboatandgotintoitwithTomandElla。
JustaftertheyhadpushedoffIsawamanrunningdownthestepsonthecliffwavinghisarmswhilehecalledoutsomething。Butofhimtheytooknoheed。Idonotthinktheynoticedhim。Asforme，Iswamon。
IcouldnotgoveryfastbecauseIwassodreadfullytired；alsoIdidnotlikeswimming，andthecoldwavesbrokeovermyhead，makingthecutinmynosesmartandfillingmyeyeswithsomethingthatstungthem。Icouldnotseefareither，nordidIknowwhereIwasgoing。I
knewnothingexceptIwasabouttodie，andthatsooneverythingwouldbeatanend；men，dogs——everything，yes，evenTom。Iwantedthingstocometoanend。Ihadsufferedsodreadfully，lifewassohorrible，I
wassoverytired。Ifeltthatitwasbettertodieandhavedone。
SoIswamonalongwayandbegantoforgetthings；indeedIthoughtthatIwasplayinginthebigturnipfieldwithmymotherandsister。
ButjustasIwassinkingexhaustedahandshotdownintothewaterandcaughtmebytheears，althoughfrombelowthefingerslookedasthoughtheywerebendingawayfromme。Isawitcomingandtriedtosinkmorequickly，butcouldnot。
"I’vegother，"saidthevoiceofTomgleefully。"My！isn’tsheabeauty？Overninepoundsifsheisanounce。Onlyjustintime，though，"hewenton，"for，look！she’sdrowning；herheadwobblesasthoughsheweresea-sick。Buckup，pussie，buckup！Youmustn’tcheatthehoundsatlast，youknow。Itwouldn’tbesportsmanlike，andtheyhatedeadhares。"
Thenheheldmebymyhindlegstodrainthewateroutofme，andafterwardsbegantoblowdownmynose，Ididnotknowwhy。
"Don’tdothat，Tom，"saidEllasharply。"It’snasty。"
"Mustkeepthelifeinhersomehow，"answeredTom，andwentonblowing。
"MasterTom，"interruptedGiles，whowasrowingtheboat。"Iain’tparticular，butIwishyou’dleavethatthereharealone。SomehowI
thinksthere’sbadnewsinitseye。Whoknows？P’rapsthelittledevilfeels。Anyway，it’sarumone，itsswimmingouttosea。Ineversee’dahuntedharedothatafore。"
"Bosh！"saidTom，andcontinuedhisblowing。
WereachedtheshoreandTomjumpedoutoftheboat，holdingmebytheears。Thehoundswereallonthebeach，mostofthemlyingdown，fortheywereverytired，butthemenwerestandinginaknotatadistancetalkingearnestly，Tomrantothehounds，cryingout——
"Heresheis，mybeauties，heresheis！"whereontheygotupandbegantobay。Thenheheldmeabovethem。
"MasterTom，"IheardJerry’svoicesay，"forGod’ssakeletthatharegoandlisten，MasterTom，"andthegirlElla，whoofasuddenhadbeguntosob，triedtopullhimback。
Buthewasmadtoseemebittentodeathandeaten，anduntilhehaddonesowouldattendtonoone。Heonlyshouted，"One——two——three！
Now，hounds！/Worry，worry，worry！/"
Thenhethrewmeintotheairabovetheredthroatsandgnashingteethwhichleaptuptowardsme。
*****
TheHarepaused，butadded，"Didyoutellme，friendMahatma，thatyouhadneverbeentorntopiecesbyhounds，’brokenup，’Ibelievetheycallit？"
"Yes，Idid，"Ianswered，"andwhatismoreIshallbeobligedifyouwillnotdwelluponthesubject。"
THECOMINGOFTHERED-FACEDMAN
"Asyoulike，"saidtheHare。"Certainlyitwasverydreadful。Itseemedtolastalongtime。ButIdon’tminditsomuchnow，forI
feelthatitcanneverhappentomeagain。AtleastIhopeitcan’t，forIdon’tknowwhatIhavedonetodeservesuchafate，anymorethanIknowwhyitshouldhavehappenedtomeonce。"
"Somethingyoudidinapreviousexistence，perhaps，"Ianswered。"Youseethenyoumayhavehuntedothercreaturessocruellythatatlastyourturncametosufferwhatyouhadmadethemsuffer。Ioftenthinkthatbecauseofwhatwehavedonebeforewemenarealsoreallybeinghuntedbysomethingwecannotsee。"
"Ah！"exclaimedtheHare，"Ineverthoughtofthat。Ihopeitistrue，foritmakesthingsseemjusterandlesswicked。ButIsay，friendMahatma，whatamIdoingherenow，whereyoutellmepoorcreatureswithfourfeetnever，orhardlyevercome？"
"Idon’tknow，Hare。Iamnotwise，towhomitisonlygrantedtovisittheRoadoccasionallytosearchforsomeone。"
"Iunderstand，Mahatma，butstillyoumustknowagreatdealoryouwouldnotbeallowedinsuchaplacebeforeyourtime，oratanyrateyoumustbeabletoguessagreatdeal。Sotellme，whydoyouthinkthatIamhere？"
"Ican’tsay，Hare，Ican’tindeed。PerhapsaftertheGatesareopenandyourGuardianhasgivenyoutodrinkoftheCup，youwillgotosleepandwakeupagainassomethingelse。"
"Todrinkofthecup，Mahatma？Idon’tdrink；atleastIdidn’t，thoughIcan’ttellwhatmayhappenhere。Butwhatdoyoumeanaboutwakingupassomethingelse？Pleasebemoreplain。Aswhatelse？"
"Oh！whocanknow？PossiblyasyouareonthehumanRoadyoumightevenbecomeamansomeday，thoughIshouldnotadviseyoutobuildonsuchahopeasthat。"
"Whatdoyousay，Mahatma？Aman！Oneofthosetwo-leggedbeaststhathunthares；athinglikeGilesandTom——yes，Tom？Oh！notthat——notthat！I’dalmostrathergothrougheverythingagainthanbecomeacruel，torturingman。"
AsitspokethustheHaregrewsodisturbedthatitnearlyvanished；
literallyitseemedtomeltawaytillIcouldonlyperceiveitsoutline。WithakindofshockIcomprehendedallthehorrorthatitmustfeelatsuchaprospectasIhadsuggestedtoit，andreallythisgraspingofthetruthhurtmyhumanpride。Ithadnevercomehometomebeforethatthecircumstancesoftheirlives——anddeaths——mustcausesomecreaturestoseeusinstrangelights。
"Oh！IhavenodoubtIwasmistaken，"Isaidhurriedly，"andthatyourwishesonthepointwillberespected。ItoldyouthatIknownothing。"
AtthesewordstheHarebecamequitevisibleagain。
Itsatupandveryreflectivelybegantorubitsstillshadowynosewithashadowypaw。Ithinkthatitrememberedthestingofthesaltwaterinthecutmadebytheglassofthewindowthroughwhichithadsprung。
Believingthatitsremarkablestorywasdone，andthatpresentlyitwouldaltogethermeltawayandvanishoutofmyknowledge，Ilookedaboutme。FirstIlookedabovethetoweringGatestoseewhethertheLightshadyetbeguntochange。ThenastheyhadnotIlookeddowntheGreatWhiteRoad，followingitformilesandmiles，untileventomyspiritsightitlostitselfintheNowhere。
PresentlycomingupthisRoadtowardsusIsawamandressedinagreencoat，riding-breechesandbootsandapeakedcap，whoheldinhishandahunting-whip。Hewasafine-lookingpersonofmiddleage，withapleasant，opencountenance，brightblueeyes，andveryredcheeks，onwhichheworelight-colouredwhiskers。Inshortajovial-
lookingindividual，withwhomthingshadevidentlyalwaysgonewell，onetowhomsorrowanddisappointmentandmentalstrugglewereutterstrangers。He，atleast，hadneverknownwhatitisto"endurehardness"inallhislife。
StudyinghisnatureasonecandoontheRoad，Iperceivedalsothatinhimtherewasnoguile。Hewasagood-minded，God-fearingmanaccordingtohissimplelights，whohaddonemanykindnessesandcontributedliberallytowardsthewantsofthepoor，thoughashehadbeenveryrich，ithadcosthimlittlethustogratifythenaturalpromptingsofhisheart。
MoreoverhewaswhatJorsencallsa"youngsoul，"quiteyoungindeed，bywhichImeanthathehadnotoftenwalkedtheRoadinpreviousstatesoflife，asforinstancethatEasternwomanhaddonewhoaccostedmebeforethearrivaloftheHare。Sotospeakhiscrudenaturehadscarcelyoutgrowntheprimitivehumanconditioninwhichnecessityaswellastastemakeitcustomaryandpleasanttomentokill；thatconditionthroughwhichalmosteveryboypassesonhiswaytomanhood，Isupposebytheworkingofsomesecretlawofreminiscence。
Itwasthisthoughtthatfirstledmetoconnectthenew-comerwiththeRed-facedManoftheHare’sstory。ItmayseemstrangethatI
shouldhavebeensodense，butthetruthisthatitneveroccurredtome，anymorethanithaddonetotheHare，thatsuchapersonwouldbeatalllikelytotreadtheRoadformanyyearstocome。Ihadgatheredthathewascomparativelyyoung，andalthoughIhadarguedotherwisewiththeHare，hadconcludedthereforethathewouldcontinuetolivehishappyearthlifeuntiloldagebroughthimtoanaturalend。Hencemyobtuseness。
Themanwasdriftingtowardsmethoughtfully，evidentlymuchbewilderedbyhisnewsurroundingsbutnotintheleastafraid。Indeedtherenoneareafraid；whentheyglidefromtheirdeath-bedstotheRoadtheyleavefearbehindthemwiththeotherterrorsofourmortallot。
PresentlyhebecameconsciousofthepresenceoftheHare，andthoughtspassedthroughhismindwhichofcourseIcouldread。
"Myword！"hesaidtohimself，"thingsarebetterthanIhoped。
There’sahare，andwherethereareharestheremustbehuntingandshooting。Oh！ifonlyIhadagun，ortheghostofagun！"
Thenanideastruckhim。Heliftedhishunting-cropandhurleditattheHare。
Asitwasonlytheshadowofacropofcourseitcouldhurtnothing。
StillitwentthroughtheshadowoftheHareandcausedittotwistroundlikelightning。
"Thatwasagoodshotanyway，"hereflected，withasatisfiedsmile。
BynowtheHarehadseenhim。
"/TheRed-facedMan！/"itexclaimed，"Grampushimself！"anditturnedtofleeaway。
"Don’tbefrightened，"Icried，"hecan’thurtyou；nothingcanhurtyouhere。"
TheHarehaltedandsatup。"No，"itsaid，"Iforgot。Butyousaw，hetriedto。Now，Mahatma，youwillunderstandwhatabloodthirstybruteheis。EvenafterIamdeadhehastriedtokillmeagain。"
"Well，andwhynot？"interruptedtheMan。"Whatareharesforexcepttobekilled？"
"There，Mahatma，youhearhim。Lookatme，Man，whoamI？"
SohelookedattheHareandtheHarelookedathim。Presentlyhisfacegrewpuzzled。
"ByJingo！"hesaidslowly，"youareuncommonlylike——you/are/thataccursedwitchofaharewhichcostmemylife。Therearethewhitemarksonyourback，andthereisthegreysplotchonyourear。Oh！ifonlyIhadagun——arealgun！"
"Youwouldshootme，wouldn’tyou，ortryto？"saidtheHare。"Well，youhaven’tandyoucan’t。YousayIcostyouyourlife。Whatdoyoumean？Itwasmylifethatwassacrificed，notyours。"
"Indeed，"answeredtheMan，"Ithoughtyougotaway。NeversawanymoreofyouafteryoujumpedthroughtheFrenchwindow。Neverhadtime。ThelastthingIrememberisherLadyshipscreaminglikeamadcockatoo，yes，andabusingmeasthoughIwereapickpocket，withthedrawing-roomallonfire。Thensomethinghappened，anddownIwentamongthebrokenchinaandhitmyheadagainstthelegofatable。
NextcameakindofwhirlingblacknessandIwokeuphere。"
"Afitorastroke，"Isuggested。
"Both，Ithink，sir。Thefitfirst——Ihavehad’embefore，andthestrokeafterwards——againstthelegofthetable。Anywaytheyfinishedmebetweenthem，thankstothatlittlebeast。"
ThenitwasthatIsawaverystrangething，ahareinarage。Itseemedtogomad，ofcourseImeanspirituallymad。Itseyesflashedfire；itopeneditsmouthandshutitafterthefashionofasuffocatingfish。Atlastitspokeinitsownway——IcannotstoptoexplaininfurtherdetailtheexactmannerofspeechorratherofitsequivalentupontheRoad。
"Man，Man，"itexclaimed，"yousaythatIfinishedyou。Butwhatdidyoudotome？Youshotme。Lookatthemarksuponmyback。Youcoursedmewithyourrunningdogs。Youhuntedmewithyourhounds。YoudraggedmeoutoftheseaintowhichIswamtoescapeyoubydeath，andthrewmelivingtothepack，"andtheHarestoppedexhaustedbyitsownfury。
"Well，"repliedtheMancoolly，"andsupposeI，ormypeople，did，whatofit？Whyshouldn’tI？Youwereabeast，Iwasamanwithdominionoveryou。YoucanreadallaboutthatintheBookofGenesis。"
"IneverheardoftheBookofGenesis，"saidtheHare，"butwhatdoesdominionmean？DoesthisBookofGenesissaythatitmeanstherighttotormentthatwhichisweakerthanthetormentor？"
"Allyouanimalsweremadeforustoeat，"commentedtheMan，avoidingananswertothedirectquestion。
"Verygood，"answeredtheHare，"letussupposethatwe/were/givenyoutoeat。Wasitinordertoeatmethatyoucameoutagainstmewithguns，thenwithdogsthatrunbysight，andthenwithdogsthatrunbysmell？"
"Ifyouweretobekilledandeaten，whyshouldyounotbekilledinoneoftheseways，Hare？"
"WhyshouldIbekilledinthoseways，Man，whenothersmoremercifulweretoyourhand？Indeed，whyshouldIbekilledatall？Moreover，ifyouwishedtosatisfyyourhungerwithmybody，whyatthelastwasI
throwntothedogstodevour？"
"Idon’tquiteknow，Hare。Neverlookedatthematterinthatlightbefore。But——ah！I’vegotyounow，"headdedtriumphantly。"Ifithadn’tbeenformeyouneverwouldhavelived。Yousee/I/gaveyouthegiftoflife。Therefore，insteadofgrumbling，youshouldbeverymuchobligedtome。Don’tyouunderstand？Ipreservedhares，sothatwithoutmeyouwouldneverhavebeenahare。Isn’tthatright，Mr。——
Mr。——IamsorryIhaveforgottenyourname，"headded，turningtowardsme。
"Mahatma，"Isaid。
"Oh！yes，Irememberitnow——Mr。——ah——Mr。Hatter。"
"Thereissomethingintheargument，"Irepliedcautiously，"butletushearourfriend’sanswer。"
"Answer——myanswer！Well，hereitis。Whatareyou，Man，whodaretosaythatyougivelifeorwithholdit？YouaLordoflife，/you！/I
tellyouthatIknowlittle，yetIamsurethatyouorthoselikeyouhavenomorepowertocreatelifethantheworldwehavelefthastobidthestarstoshine。Ifthelifemustcome，itwillcome，andifitcannotfulfilitselfasahare，thenitwillappearassomethingelse。
Ifyousaythatyoucreatelife，I，thepoorbeastwhichyoutortured，tellyouthatyouareapresumptuousliar。"
"Youdaretolectureme，"saidtheMan，"me，theheirofalltheages，asthepoetcalledme。Why，younastylittleanimal，doyouknowthatIhavekilledhundredslikeyou，and，"headded，withasuddenafflatusofpride，"thousandsofothercreatures，suchaspheasants，tosaynothingofdeerandlargergame？ThathasbeenmyprincipaloccupationsinceIwasaboy。ImaysaythatIhavelivedforsport；
gotverylittleelsetoshowformylife，sotospeak。"
"Oh！"saidtheHare，"haveyou？Well，ifIwereyou，Ishouldn’tboastaboutitjustnow。Yousee，wearestilloutsideofthoseGates。Whoknowsbutthatyouwillfindeveryoneofthelivingthingsyouhaveamusedyourselfbyslaughteringwaitingforyouwithinthem，eachprayingforjusticetoitsMakerandyourown？"
"Myword！"saidtheMan，"whatahorriblenotion；it’slikeabaddream。"
Hereflectedalittle，thenadded，"Well，iftheydo，I’vegotmyanswer。Ikilledthemforfood；manmustlive。Millionsofpheasantsaresoldtobeeateneveryyearatamuchsmallerpricethantheycosttobreed。Whatdoyousaytothat，Mr。Hatter？Finisheshim，Ithink。"
"I’mnotarguing，"Ireplied。"AsktheHare。"
"Yes，askme，Man，andalthoughyouarerepeatingyourself，I’llanswerwithanotherquestion，knowingthathereyoumusttellthetruth。Didyoureallyrearusallforfood？Wasitforthisthatyoukeptyourkeepers，yourrunningdogsandyourhuntingdogs，thatyoumightkillpoordefencelessbeastsandbirdstofillmen’sstomachs？
Ifthiswasso，Ihavenothingmoretosay。Indeed，ifourdeathsorsufferingsattheirhandsreallyhelpmeninanyway，Ihavenothingmoretosay。Iadmitthatyouarehigherandstrongerthanweare，andhavearighttouseusforyourownadvantage，oreventodestroyusaltogetherifweharmyou。"
TheManpondered，thenrepliedsullenly——
"Youknowverywellthatitwasnotso。Ididnotrearuppheasantsandharesmerelytoeatthemorthatothersmighteatthem。SomethingforcesmetotellyouthatitwasinorderthatImightenjoymyselfbyshowingmyskillinshootingthem，ortohavethepleasureandexerciseofhuntingthemtodeath。Still，"headdeddefiantly，"IwhoamaChristianmanmaintainthatmyreligionperfectlyjustifiedmeindoingallthesethings，andthatnoblameattachestomeonthisaccount。"
"Verygood，"saidtheHare，"nowwehaveaclearissue。FriendMahatma，whenthoseGatesopenpresentlywhathappensbeyondthem？"
"Idon’tknow，"Ianswered，"Ihaveneverbeenthere；atleastnotthatIcanremember。"
"Still，friendMahatma，isitnotsaidthatyonderlivessomePowerwhichjudgesrighteouslyanddeclareswhatistrueandwhatisfalse？"
"Ihaveheardso，Hare。"
"Verywell，Man，IlaymycausebeforethatPower——doyouthesame。IfIamwrongIwillgobacktoearthtobetorturedbyyouandyoursagain。If，however，Iamright，youshallabidethejudgmentofthePower，andIaskthatItwillmakeofyou——ahuntedhare！"
Nowwhenheheardtheseawfulwords——fortheywereawful——noless，theRed-facedMangrewmuchdisturbed。Hehummedandhehawed，andshiftedhisfeetabout。Atlasthesaid——
"Youmustadmitthatwhileyoulivedyouhadafirst-classtimeundermyprotection。Lotsofturnipstoeatandsoforth。"
"Afirst-classtime！"theHareansweredwithwitheringscorn。"Whatsortofatimewouldyouhavehadifsomeonehadshotyoualloverthebackandyoumustcreepawaytodieofpainandstarvation？Howwouldyouhaveenjoyeditif，fromdaytoday，youhadbeenforcedtoliveinterrorofcunningmonsters，whoatanyhourmightappeartohurtyouinsomenewfashion？Doyousupposethatanimalscannotfeelfear，andiscontinualfearthekindoffriendthatgivesthema’first-classtime’？"
TothislastargumenttheManseemedabletofindnoanswer。
"Mr。Hare，"hesaidhumbly，"weareallfallible。AlthoughIneverthoughttofindmyselfinthepositionofhavingtodoso，IwilladmitthatImaypossiblyhavebeenmistakeninmyviewsandtreatmentofyouandyourkind，andindeedofothercreatures。Ifso，I
apologiseforany，ah——temporaryinconvenienceImayhavecausedyou。
Icandonomore。"
"Come，Hare，"Iinterposed，"that’shandsome；perhapsyoumightletbygonesbebygones。"
"Apologise！"exclaimedtheHare。"AfterallIhavesufferedIdonotthinkitisenough。Attheveryleast，Mahatma，heshouldsaythatheisheartilyashamedandsorry。"
"Well，well，"saidtheMan，"it’snousemakingtwobitesofacherry。
Iamsorry，trulysorryforallthepainandterrorIhavebroughtonyou。Ifthatwon’tdolet’sgoupandsettlethematter，andifI’vebeenwrongI’lltrytobeartheconsequenceslikeagentleman。Only，Mr。Hare，Ihopethatyouwillnotwishtoputyourcasemorestronglyagainstmethanyouneed。"
"NotI，Man。Iknownowthatyouonlyerredbecausethetruthhadnotbeenrevealedtoyou——becauseyoudidnotunderstand。AllthatIwillask，ifIcan，isthatyoumaybeallowedtotellthistruthtoothermen。"
"Well，IamgladtosayIcan’tdothat，Hare。"
"Don’tbesosure，"Ibrokein；"it’sjustthekindofthingwhichmightbedecreed——agenerationortwohencewhentheworldisfittolistentoyou。"
Buthetooknoheed，ordidnotcomprehendme，andwenton——
"Itisanimpossibility，andifIdidtheywouldthinkmealunaticorasnivelling，sentimentalhumbug。Ibelievethatlotsofmyoldfriendswouldscarcelyspeaktomeagain。Why，puttingasidethepleasuresofsport，iftheviewsyoupreachweretobeaccepted，whatwouldbecomeofkeepersandbeatersandhuntsmenanddog-breeders，andofthousandsofotherswhodirectlyorindirectlygettheirlivingoutofhuntingandshooting？Wherewouldgamerentsbealso？"
"Idon’tknow，Iamsure，"repliedtheHarewearily。"Isupposethattheywouldearntheirlivinginsomeotherway，astheymustincountrieswherethereisnosport，andthatyouwouldhavetomakeupforshootingrentsbygrowingmoreupontheland。Youknowthatafterallweharesandtheothergameeatagreatdealwhichmightbesavediftherewerenotsomanyofus。ButIamnotwise，andIhaveneverlookedatthequestionfromthatpointofview。Itmayseemselfish，butIhavetoconsidermyselfandthecreatureswhosecauseIplead，forsomethinginsidemeistellingmenow——yes，now——thatallofthemarespeakingthroughmymouth。ItsaysthatiswhyIamallowedtobehereandtotalkwithyouboth；fortheirsakesratherthanformyown。"
"Ifyouhavemoretosayyouhadbettersayitquickly，"I
interrupted，addressingtheRed-facedMan。"IseethattheLightsarebeginningtochange，whichmeansthatsoontheRoadwillbeclosedandtheGatesopened。"
"Ican’trememberanything，"heanswered。"Yes，thereisonematter，"
headdednervously。"Isee，Mr。Hare，thatyouarethinkingofmyboyTom，notverykindlyIamafraid。AsyouhavebeensogoodastoforgivemeIhopethatyouwon’tbehardonTom。Heisnotatallabadsortofaladifalittlethoughtless，likemanyotheryoungpeople。"
"Idon’tlikeTom，"saidtheHare，withdecision。"Tomshotmewhenyoutoldhimnottoshoot。Tomshutmeupinafilthyplacewithayellowrabbitwhichheforgottofeed，sothatitwantedtoeatme。
Tomtriedtocutmeofffromthewoodsothattherunningdogsmightcatchme，althoughyoushoutedtohimthatitwasnotsportsmanlike。
Tomdraggedmeoutoftheseaandblewdownmynostrilstokeepmealive。Tomthrewmetothehounds，althoughGilesremonstratedwithhimandeventhehuntsmanbeggedhimtoletmego。ItellyouthatI
don’tlikeTom。"
"Still，Mr。Hare，"pleadedtheRed-facedMan，"IhopethatifitshouldbeinyourpowerwhenwegetthroughthoseGates，thatyouwillbemercifultoTom。Ican’tthinkofmuchtosayforhiminthishurry，butthere，heismyonlysonandthetruthisthatIlovehim。
Youknowhemaylive——tobedifferent——ifyoudon’tbringsomemisfortuneonhim。"
"WhoamItobringmisfortuneortowithholdit？"askedtheHare，softeningvisibly。"Well，Iknowwhatlovemeans，formymotherlovedmeandIlovedherinmyway。ItellyouthatwhenIsawherdead，turnedfromabeautifullivingthingintoastainedlumpoffleshandfur，Ifeltdreadful。IunderstandnowthatyouloveTomasmymotherlovedme，and，Man，forthesakeofyourlove——notforhissake，mind——IpromiseyouthatIwon’tsayanythingagainstTomifIcanhelpit，ordoanythingeither。"
"You’rearealgoodfellow！"exclaimedtheRed-facedMan，withevidentrelief。"Givemeyourhand。Oh！Iforgot，youcan’t。Hullo！what’supnow？Everythingseemstobealtering。"
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Ashespoke，tomyeyestheLightsbegantochangeinearnest。Allthesky（Icallitskyforclearness）abovethemightyGatesbecameasitwerealivewithburningtonguesofeverycolourthatanartistcanconceive。Bydegreesthesefierytonguesorswordsshapedthemselvesintoavastcirclewhichdrovebackthewallsofdarkness，andthroughthiscircle，guided，guardedbythespiritsofdeadsuns，withodoursandwithchantings，descendedthatcrownedCityoftheMansionsbeforewhosegloryimaginationbreaksandevenVisionveilshereyes。
Itdescended，itsbannerswaveringinthewindsofprayer；ithungabovetheGates，theflowersofallsplendours，Heaven’sveryrose，hunglikeanopalontheboundlessbreastofnight，andthereitstayed。
TheVoiceintheNorthcalledtotheVoiceintheSouth；theVoiceintheEastcalledtotheVoiceintheWest，anduptheGreatWhiteRoadspedtheAngeloftheRoad，makingreportashecamethatallhismultitudeweregatheredinandforthatwhiletheRoadwasbarred。
HepassedandinaflashtheGateswereburnedaway。TheashesofthemfellupontheheadsofthosewaitingattheGates，whiteningtheirfacesanddryingtheirtearsbeforetheChange。TheyfellupontheManandtheHarebesideme，veilingthemasitwereandmakingthemsilent，butonmetheydidnotfall。Then，frombetweentheWardensoftheGates，flowedforththeHelpersandtheGuardians（savethosewhoalreadywerewithoutcomfortingthechildren）seekingtheirbelovedandbearingtheCupsofslumberandnewbirth；thenpealedthequestion——
"Whohathsufferedmost？Letthatonefirsttasteofpeace。"
Nowallthedimhostssurgedforwardsinceeachoutwornsoulbelievedthatithadsufferedmostandwasinthebitterestneedofpeace。ButtheHelpersandtheGuardiansgentlypressedthemback，andagaintherepealed，noquestionbutacommand。
Thiswasthecommand：——
"Drawnear，thouHare。"
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JorsenaskedmewhathappenedafterthisjustificationoftheHare，which，ifIheardaright，appearedtosuggestthatbythedecreeofsomejudgeunknown，thewoesofsuchcreaturesarenotunnotedanddespised，orleftunsolaced。OfcourseIhadtoanswerhimthatI
couldnottell。
Perhapsnothinghappenedatall。PerhapsallthewondersIseemedtosee，eventheRoadbywhichsoulstravelfromTheretoHereandfromHeretoThere，andtheGatesthatwereburnedaway，andtheCityoftheMansionsthatdescended，werebutsignsandsymbolsofmysterieswhichasyetwecannotgrasporunderstand。
Whatevermaybethetruthastothismatterofmyvisions，Ineedhardlyadd，however，thatnoonecanbemoreanxiousthanIammyselftolearninwhatwaytheRed-facedMan，speakingonbehalfofourdominantrace，andtheHare，speakingasanappointedadvocateofthesubjectanimalcreation，finishedtheirargumentinthelightoffullerknowledge。MuchalsodoIwonderwhichofthemwasprovedtoberight，adifficultmatterwhereonIfeelquiteincompetenttoexpressanyviews。
ButyouseeatthatmomentIwokeup。TheedgeoftheRoadonwhichI
wasstandingseemedtogivewaybeneathme，andIfellintospaceasonedoesinanightmare。Itisaveryunpleasantsensation。
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IremembernoticingafterwardsthatIcouldnothavebeenlongasleep。
WhenIbegantodreamIhadonlyjustblownoutthecandle，andwhenI
awokeagaintherewasstillasmoulderingsparkuponitswick。
But，asIhavesaid，inthatspirit-landwitherIhadjourneyedistobefoundneithertimenorspacenoranyotherfamiliarthing。
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