."

"Come, Hare," I interposed, "that's handsome; perhaps you might let
bygones be bygones."

"Apologise!" exclaimed the Hare. "After all I have suffered I do not
think it is enough. At the very least, Mahatma, he should say that he is
heartily ashamed and sorry."

"Well, well," said the Man, "it's no use making two bites of a cherry. I
am sorry, truly sorry for all the pain and terror I have brought on you.
If that won't do let's go up and settle the matter, and if I've been
wrong I'll try to bear the consequences like a gentleman. Only, Mr.
Hare, I hope that you will not wish to put your case more strongly
against me than you need."

"Not I, Man. I know now that you only erred because the truth had not
been revealed to you--because you did not understand. All that I will
ask, if I can, is that you may be allowed to tell this truth to other
men."

"Well, I am glad to say I can't do that, Hare."

"Don't be so sure," I broke in; "it's just the kind of thing which might
be decreed--a generation or two hence when the world is fit to listen to
you."

But he took no heed, or did not comprehend me, and went on--

"It is an impossibility, and if I did they would think me a lunatic or
a snivelling, sentimental humbug. I believe that lots of my old friends
would scarcely speak to me again. Why, putting aside the pleasures of
sport, if the views you preach were to be accepted, what would become of
keepers and beaters and huntsmen and dog-breeders, and of thousands of
others who directly or indirectly get their living out of hunting and
shooting? Where would game rents be also?"

"I don't know, I am sure," replied the Hare wearily. "I suppose
that they would earn their living in some other way, as they must in
countries where there is no sport, and that you would have to make up
for shooting rents by growing more upon the land. You know that after
all we hares and the other game eat a great deal which might be saved if
there were not so many of us. But I am not wise, and I have never looked
at the question from that point of view. It may seem selfish, but I have
to consider myself and the creatures whose cause I plead, for something
inside me is telling me now--yes, now--that all of them are speaking
through my mouth. It says that is why I am allowed to be here and to
talk with you both; for their sakes rather than for my own."

"If you have more to say you had better say it quickly," I interrupted,
addressing the Red