Cry Havoc! And let slip the dogs of war.
Shakespeare, Julius CaesarAt that moment General Woundwort, out on the open grass below the bank,was facing Thistle and Ragwort in the checkered yellow moonlight of the smallhours.
"You weren't put at the mouth of that run to listen," he said. "You were putthere to stop anyone breaking out. You had no business to leave it. Get back atonce.""I give you my word, sir," said Thistle querulously, "there's some animal downthere that is not a rabbit. We both heard it.""And did you smell it?" asked Woundwort.
"No, sir. No tracks or droppings either. But we both heard an animal and it wasno rabbit."Several of the diggers had left their work and were gathered nearby, listening.
A muttering began.
"They had a homba that killed Captain Mallow. My brother was there. He sawit.""They had a great bird that turned into a shaft of lightning.""There was another animal that took them away down the river.""Why can't we go home?""Stop that!" said Woundwort. He went up to the group. "Who said that? You,was it? Very well, go home. Go on, hurry up. I'm waiting. That's the way -- overthere."The rabbit did not move. Woundwort looked slowly round.
"Right," he said. "Anyone else who wants to go home can get on with it. It's anice long way and you'll have no officers, because they'll all be busy digging,including myself. Captain Vervain, Captain Groundsel, will you come with me?
You, Thistle, go out there and fetch Captain Campion. And you, Ragwort, get backto the mouth of that run you had no business to leave."Very soon the digging was resumed. The hole was deep now -- deeper thanWoundwort had expected and still there was no sign of a fall. But all three rabbitscould sense that not far below them there lay a hollow space.
"Keep at it," said Woundwort. "It won't take long now."When Campion came in, he reported that he had seen three rabbits runningaway over the down to the north. One appeared to be the lame rabbit. He hadbeen about to pursue them but had returned in response to the order brought byThistle.
"It doesn't matter," said Woundwort. "Let them go. There'll be three less whenwe get in. What, you again?" he snapped, as Ragwort appeared beside him. "Whatis it this time?""The open run, sir," said Ragwort. "It's been broken in and stopped from downbelow.""Then you can start doing something useful," said Woundwort. "Get that rootout. No, that one, you fool."The digging continued, as the first streaks of light began to come into the east.
-<*>-The great field at the foot of the escarpment had been reaped, but the strawhad not yet been burned and lay in long pale rows upon the darker stubble,tenting over the bristling stalks and the weeds of harvest -- knotgrass andpimpernel, fluellen and speedwell, heartsease and persicary -- colorless and stillin the old moonlight. Between the lines of straw the expanse of stubble was asopen as the down.
"Now," said Hazel, as they came out from the belt of hawthorn and dogwoodwhere the pylon stood, "are you both sure you understand what we're going todo?""It's a tall order, isn't it, Hazel-rah?" answered Dandelion. "But we've got to tryit, that's certain. There's nothing else that'll save the warren now.""Come on, then," said Hazel. "The going's easy, anyway -- half as far now thefield's been cut. Don't bother about cover -- just run in the open. Keep with me,though. I'll go as fast as I can."They crossed the field easily enough, Dandelion running ahead. The only alarmcame when they startled four partridges, which whirred away over the hedge tothe west and sailed down, spread-winged, into the field beyond. Soon theyreached the road and Hazel halted among the quickset on top of the nearer bank.
"Now, Blackberry," he said, "this is where we leave you. Lie close and don'tmove. When the time comes, don't break too soon. You've got the best head ofany of us. Use it -- and keep it, too. When you get back, go to ground in Kehaar'srun and stay there till things are safe. Have you got your line clear?""Yes, Hazel-rah," replied Blackberry. "But, as far as I can see, I may have to runfrom here to the iron tree without a check. There's no cover.""I know," said Hazel. "It can't be helped. If the worst comes to the worst, you'llhave to turn for the hedge and then keep popping in and out of it. Do whateveryou like. There's no time for us to stay and work it out. Only make sure you getback to the warren. It all depends on you."Blackberry burrowed his way into the moss and ivy round the base of thethorn. The other two crossed the road and made uphill toward the sheds besidethe lane.
"Good roots they keep there," said Hazel, as they passed them and reached thehedge. "Pity we've no time just now. When this is over we'll have a nice, quiet raidon the place.""I hope we do, Hazel-rah," said Dandelion. "Are you going straight up the lane?
What about cats?""It's the quickest way," said Hazel. "That's all that matters now."By this time the first light was clear and several larks were up. As theyapproached the great ring of elm trees, they heard once more the q............