Why, now, blow wind, swell billow and swim bark!
The storm is up and all is on the hazard!
Shakespeare, Julius CaesarLate in the afternoon it came on dark and very close. It was plain that therewould be no true sunset. On the green path by the riverbank, Hazel sat fidgetingas he tried to imagine what might be going on in Efrafa.
"He told you he wanted you to attack the sentries while the rabbits werefeeding, didn't he," he said to Kehaar, "and that he'd bring the mothers out in theconfusion?""Ya, say dis, but not 'appen. Den 'e say go away, come again tonight.""So that's still what he means to do. The question is, when will they befeeding? It's getting dark already. Silver, what do you think?""If I know them, they won't alter anything they usually do," said Silver. "But ifyou're worried in case we're not there in time, why not go now?""Because they're always patrolling. The longer we wait up there, the greater therisk. If a patrol finds us before Bigwig comes, it won't be just a matter of gettingourselves away. They'll realize we're there for some purpose and give the alarm,and that'll be the end of any chance he's got.""Listen, Hazel-rah," said Blackberry. "We ought to reach the iron road at thesame time as Bigwig and not a moment before. Why don't you take them all overthe river now and wait in the undergrowth, near the boat? Once Kehaar's attackedthe sentries, he can fly back and tell us.""Yes, that's it," answered Hazel. "But once he's told us, we must get up there inno time at all. Bigwig's going to need us as well as Kehaar.""Well, you won't be able to dash up to the arch," said Fiver, "with your leg. Thebest thing you can do is to get on the boat and have the rope gnawed half throughby the time we come back. Silver can look after the fighting, if there's going to beany."Hazel hesitated. "But some of us are probably going to get hurt. I can't staybehind.""Fiver's right," said Blackberry. "You will have to wait on the boat, Hazel. Wecan't risk your being left to be picked up by the Efrafans. Besides, it's veryimportant that the rope should be half gnawed -- that's a job for someonesensible. It mustn't break too soon or we're all finished."It took them some time to persuade Hazel. When at last he agreed, he was stillreluctant.
"If Bigwig doesn't come tonight," he said, "I shall go and find him, wherever heis. Frith knows what may have happened already."As they set off up the left bank, the wind began to blow in fitful, warm gusts,with a multifoliate rustling through the sedges. They had just reached the plankbridge when there came a rumble of thunder. In the intense, strange light, theplants and leaves seemed magnified and the fields beyond the river very near.
There was an oppressive stillness.
"You know, Hazel-rah," said Bluebell, "this really is the funniest evening I'veever gone looking for a doe.""It's going to get a lot funnier soon," said Silver. "There'll be lightning andpouring rain. For goodness' sake, all of you, don't panic, or we'll never see ourwarren again. I think this is going to be a rough business," he added quietly toHazel. "I don't like it much."-<*>-Bigwig woke to hear his name repeated urgently.
"Thlayli! Thlayli! Wake up! Thlayli!"It was Hyzenthlay.
"What is it?" he said. "What's the matter?""Nelthilta's been arrested."Bigwig leaped to his feet.
"How long ago? How did it happen?""Just now. Moneywort came down to our burrow and told her to come up toCaptain Chervil at once. I followed them up the run. When she got to Chervil'sburrow, there were two Council police waiting just outside and one of them saidto Chervil, 'Well, as quick as you can, and don't be long.' And then they took herstraight out. They must have gone to the Council. Oh, Thlayli, what shall we do?
She'll tell them everything--""Listen to me," said Bigwig. "There's not a moment to lose. Go and getThethuthinnang and the others and bring them up to this burrow. I shan't behere, but you must wait quietly until I come back. It won't be long. Quick now!
Everything depends on it."Hyzenthlay had hardly disappeared down the run when Bigwig heard anotherrabbit approaching from the opposite direction.
"Who's there?" he said, turning swiftly.
"Chervil," answered the other. "I'm glad you're awake. Listen, Thlayli, there'sgoing to be a whole lot of trouble. Nelthilta's been arrested by the Council. I wassure she would be, after my report to Vervain this morning. Whatever it was shewas talking about, they'll get it out of her. I dare say the General will be herehimself as soon as he knows what's what. Now look here, I've got to go over to theCouncil burrow at once. You and Avens are to stay here and get the sentries onduty immediately. There'll be no silflay and no one is to go outside for any reasonwhatever. All the holes are to be double-guarded. Now, you understand theseorders, don't you?""Have you told Avens?""I haven't time to go looking for Avens; he's not in his burrow. Go and alert thesentries yourself. Send someone to find Avens and someone else to tell Bartsiathat Blackavar won't be wanted this evening. Then sit on those holes -- and thehraka holes, too -- with every sentry you've got. For all I know, there may be someplot to make a break-out. We arrested Nelthilta as quietly as we could, but theMark are bound to realize what's happened. If necessary you're to get rough, doyou see? Now I'm off.""Right," said Bigwig. "I'll get busy at once."He followed Chervil to the top of the run. The sentry at the hole was Marjoram.
As he stood clear to let Chervil pass, Bigwig came up behind him and looked outinto the overcast.
"Did Chervil tell you?" he said. "Silflay's early tonight, on account of theweather. The orders are that we're to get on with it at once."He waited for Marjoram's reply. If Chervil had already told him that no onewas to go out, it would be necessary to fight him. But after a moment Marjoramsaid, "Have you heard any thunder yet?""Get on with it at once, I said," answered Bigwig. "Go down and get Blackavarand the escort up, and be quick, too. We'll need to get the Mark out immediatelyif they're to feed before the storm breaks."Marjoram went and Bigwig hurried back to his own burrow. Hyzenthlay hadlost no time. Three or four does were crammed into the burrow itself and nearby,in a side run, Thethuthinnang was crouching with several more. All were silentand frightened and one or two were close to the stupefaction of terror.
"This is no time to go tharn," said Bigwig. "Your lives depend on doing as I say.
Listen, now. Blackavar and the police guards will be up directly. Marjoram willprobably come up behind them and you must find some excuse to keep himtalking. Soon after, you'll hear fighting, because I'm going to attack the policeguards. When you hear that, come up as fast as you can and follow me out intothe field. Don't stop for anything."As he finished speaking, he heard the unmistakable sound of Blackavar and theguards approaching. Blackavar's weary, dragging gait was like that of no otherrabbit. Without waiting for the does to reply, Bigwig returned to the mouth of therun. The three rabbits came up in single file, Bartsia leading.
"I'm afraid I've brought you up here for nothing," said Bigwig. "I've just beentold that silflay's canceled for this evening. Have a look outside and you'll seewhy."As Bartsia went to look out of the hole, Bigwig slipped quickly between himand Blackavar.
"Well, it looks very stormy, certainly," said Bartsia, "but I shouldn't havethought--""Now, Blackavar!" cried Bigwig, and leaped on Bartsia from behind.
Bartsia fell forward out of the hole with Bigwig on top of him. He was not amember of the Owslafa for nothing and was reckoned a good fighter. As theyrolled over on the ground, he turned his head and sank his teeth in Bigwig'sshoulder. He had been trained to get a grip at once and to hold it at all costs.
More than once in the past this had served him well. But in fighting a rabbit ofBigwig's strength and courage it proved a mistake. His best chance would havebeen to keep clear and use his claws. He retained his hold like a dog, and Bigwig,snarling, brought both his own back legs forward, sank his feet in Bartsia's sideand then, ignoring the pain in his shoulder, forced himself upward. He feltBartsia's closed teeth come tearing out through his flesh and then he wasstanding above him as he fell back on the ground, kicking helplessly. Bigwigleaped clear. It was plain that Bartsia's haunch was injured. He struggled, butcould not get up.
"Think yourself lucky," said Bigwig, bleeding and cursing, "that I don't killyou."Without waiting to see what Bartsia would do, he jumped back into the hole.
He found Blackavar grappling with the other guard. Just beyond them,Hyzenthlay was coming up the run with Thethuthinnang behind her. Bigwig gavethe guard a tremendous cuff on the side of the head, which knocked him clearacross the run and into the prisoner's alcove. He picked himself up, panting, andstared at Bigwig without a word.
"Don't move," said Bigwig. "There'll be worse to come if you do. Blackavar, areyou all right?""Yes, sir," said Blackavar, "but what do we do now?""Follow me," said Bigwig, "all of you. Come on!"He led the way out again. There was no sign of Bartsia, but as he looked backto make sure that the others were following, he caught a glimpse of theastonished face of Avens peering out of the other hole.
"Captain Chervil wants you!" he called, and dashed away into the field.
As he reached the clump of thistles where he had spoken to Kehaar thatmorning, a long roll of thunder sounded from across the valley beyond. A fewgreat, warm drops of rain were falling. Along the western horizon the lowerclouds formed a single purple mass, against which distant trees stood out minuteand sharp. The upper edges rose into the light, a far land of wild mountains.
Copper-colored, weightless and motionless, they suggested a glassy fragility likethat of frost. Surely, when the thunder struck them again they would vibrate,tremble and shatter, till warm shards, sharp as icicles, fell flashing down from theruins. Racing through the ocher light, Bigwig was impelled by a frenzy of tensionand energy. He did not feel the wound in his shoulder. The storm was his own.
The storm would defeat Efrafa.
He was well out into the great field and looking for a sight of the distant archwhen he felt along the ground the first stamping thuds of the alarm. He pulled upand looked about him. There did not seem to be any stragglers. The does --however many there were -- were well up with him, but scattered to either side.
Rabbits in flight tend to keep away from each other, and the does had opened outas they left the hole. If there was a patrol between him and the iron road theywould not get past it without loss unless they came closer together. He wouldhave to collect them, despite the delay. Then another thought came to him. If theycould get out of sight, their pursuers might be puzzled, for the rain and the failinglight would make tracking difficult.
The rain was falling faster now and the wind was rising. Over on the eveningside, a hedge ran down the length of the field toward the iron road. He sawBlackavar nearby and ran across to him.
"I want everyone the other side of that hedge," he said. "Can you get hold ofsome of them and bring them that way?"Bigwig remembered that Blackavar knew nothing except that they were on therun. There was no time to explain about Hazel and the river.
"Go straight to that ash tree in the hedge," he said, "and take all the does youcan pick up on the way. Get through to the other side and I'll be there as soon asyou are."At this moment Hyzenthlay and Thethuthinnang came running toward them,followed by two or three other does. They were plainly confused and uncertain.
"The stamping, Thlayli!" panted Thethuthinnang. "They're coming!""Well, run, then," said Bigwig. "Keep near me, all of you."They were better runners than he had dared to hope. As they made for the ashtree, more does fell in with them and it seemed to him that they ought now to be amatch for a patrol, unless it were a very strong one. Once through the hedge heturned south and, keeping close beside it, led them down the slope. There, aheadof him, was the arch in the overgrown embankment. But would Hazel be there?
And where was Kehaar?
-<*>-"Well, and what was to happen after that, Nelthilta?" asked GeneralWoundwort. "Make sure you tell us everything, because we know a good dealalready. Let her alone, Vervain," he added. "She can't talk if you keep cuffing her,you fool.""Hyzenthlay said -- oh! oh! -- she said a big bird would attack the Owslasentries," gasped Nelthilta, "and we would run away in the confusion. And then--""She said a bird would attack the sentries?" interrupted Woundwort, puzzled.
"Are you telling the truth? What sort of a bird?""I don't -- I don't know," panted Nelthilta. "The new officer -- she said he hadtold the bird--""What do you know about a bird?" said Woundwort, turning to Chervil.
"I reported it, sir," replied Chervil. "You'll not forget, sir, that I reported thebird--"There was a scuffling outside the crowded Council burrow and Avens camepushing his way in.
"The new officer, sir!" he cried. "He's gone! Taken a crowd of the Mark doeswith him. Jumped on Bartsia and broke his leg, sir! Blackavar's cut and run, too.
We never had a chance to stop them. Goodness knows how many have joinedhim. Thlayli -- it's Thlayli's doing!""Thlayli?" cried Woundwort. "Embleer Frith, I'll blind him when I catch him!
Chervil, Vervain, Avens -- yes and you two as well -- come with me. Which wayhas he gone?""He was going downhill, sir," answered Avens.
"Lead the way you saw him take," said Woundwort.
As they came out from the Crixa, two or three of the Efrafan officers checked atthe sight of the murky light and increasing rain. But the sight of the General wasmore alarming still. Pausing only to stamp the escape alarm, they set out behindhim toward the iron road.
Very soon they came upon traces of blood which the rain had not yet washedaway, and these they followed toward the ash tree in the hedge to the west of thewarren.
-<*>-Bigwig came out from the further side of the railway arch, sat up and lookedround him. There was no sign either of Hazel or of Kehaar. For the first time sincehe had attacked Bartsia he began to feel uncertain and troubled. Perhaps, afterall, Kehaar had not understood his cryptic message that morning? Or had somedisaster overtaken Hazel and the rest? If they were dead -- scattered -- if therewas no one left alive to meet him? He and his does would wander about the fieldsuntil the patrols hunted them down.
"No, it shan't come to that," said Bigwig to himself. "At the worst we can crossthe river and try to hide in the woodland. Confound this shoulder! It's going to bemore nuisance than I thought. Well, I'll try to get them down to the plank bridgeat least. If we're not overtaken soon, perhaps the rain will discourage whoever'safter us; but I doubt it."He turned back to the does waiting under the arch. Most of them lookedbewildered. Hyzenthlay had promised that they were to ............