Shakespeare, Julius CaesarAt that moment General Woundwort, out on the open grass below the bank,was facing Thistle and Ragwort in the checkered2 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 shaft3 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 lame4 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 streaks6 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 bristling7 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 hawthorn8 and dogwoodwhere the pylon9 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 burrowed10 his way into the moss11 and ivy12 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 larks13 were up. As theyapproached the great ring of elm trees, they heard once more the quick sighingand rustling14 above them and one yellow leaf came spinning down to the edge ofthe ditch. They reached the top of the slope and saw before them the barns andthe farmyard. Bird-song was breaking out all round and the rooks were callingfrom high in the elms, but nothing -- not even a sparrow -- moved on the ground.
Straight in front, on the other side of the farmyard, close to the house, stood thedog kennel15. The dog was not to be seen, but the rope, tied to the eye bolt on theflat roof, trailed over the edge and disappeared across the straw-coveredthreshold.
"We're in time," said Hazel. "The brute's still asleep. Now, Dandelion, youmustn't make any mistake. You lie in the grass just there, opposite the kennel.
When the rope's gnawed16 through you'll see it fall. Unless the dog's ill or deaf, it'llbe alert by then; probably before, I'm afraid, but that's my lookout18. It's up to youto attract it and make it chase you all the way down to the road. You're very fast.
Take care it doesn't lose you. Use the hedges if you want to; but remember it'll betrailing the rope. Get it down to Blackberry. That's all that matters.""If we ever meet again, Hazel-rah," said Dandelion, as he took cover in thegrass verge19, "we ought to have the makings of the best story ever.""And you'll be the chap to tell it," said Hazel. He moved away in a half-circle tothe morning side and reached the wall of the farmhouse20. Then he began to hopcautiously along the wall, in and out of the narrow flower bed. His head was atumult of smells -- phlox in bloom, ashes, cow dung, dog, cat, hens, stagnantwater. He came to the back of the kennel, reeking21 of creosote and of rank straw. Ahalf-used bale of straw stood against it -- no doubt clean bedding which, in thedry weather, had not been put back under cover. Here at least was one piece ofluck, for he had expected to have trouble in getting on the roof. He scrambled22 upthe straw. Across part of the felted roof lay a torn piece of old blanket, wet withdew. Hazel sat up, sniffing23, and put his forepaws on it. It did not slip. He pulledhimself up.
How much noise had he made? How strong was his scent24 over the tar5 andstraw and farmyard? He waited, tense to jump, expecting movement below. Therewas no sound. In a terrible miasma25 of dog smell, which gripped him with fear andcalled "Run! Run!" down every nerve, he crept forward to where the eye bolt wasscrewed into the roof. His claws scraped slightly and he stopped again. Still therewas no movement. He crouched26 down and began to nibble27 and gnaw17 at the thickcord.
It was easier than he had thought it would be. It was a good deal easier thanthe cord on the punt, though about as thick. The punt cord had been drenchedthrough with rain, pliant28, slippery and fibrous. This, though dewy on the outside,was dry-cored and light. In very little time the clean inside was showing. Hischisel-like foreteeth bit steadily29 and he felt the dry strands30 rip. The cord was asgood as half through already.
At that moment he felt the heavy weight of the dog move beneath him. Itstretched, shuddered31 and yawned. The rope moved a little and the straw rustled32.
The foul33 smell of it came strong, in a cloud.
"It doesn't matter if it hears me now," thought Hazel. "If only I can get the ropebitten through quickly, it doesn't matter. The dog'll go to Dandelion, if only I canbe quick enough to make sure that the rope breaks when it begins to tug34."He ripped at the cord again and sat back for a quick breath, looking across thetrack to where Dandelion was waiting. Then he froze and stared. A short distancebehind Dandelion, in the grass, was the white-chested tabby, wide-eyed, taillashing, crouching36. It had seen both himself and Dandelion. As he watched, itcrept a length nearer. Dandelion was lying still, watching the front of the kennelintently, as he had been told. The cat tensed itself to spring.
Before he knew what he was doing, Hazel stamped on the hollow roof. Twicehe stamped and then turned to leap to the ground and run. Dandelion, reactinginstantly, shot out of the grass to the open gravel37. In the same moment, the catjumped and landed exactly where he had been lying. The dog gave two quick,sharp barks and rushed out of the kennel. It saw Dandelion at once and ran to thefull extent of the rope. The rope went taut38, held for an instant and then parted atthe point where Hazel had gnawed it to a thread. The kennel jerked forward,tilted, fell back and struck the ground with a jolt39. Hazel, already off balance,clawed at the blanket, missed his footing and fell over the edge. He landed heavilyon his weak leg and lay kicking. The dog was gone.
Hazel stopped kicking and lay still. There was a spurt40 of pain along his haunch,but he knew that he could move. He remembered the raised floor of the barnacross the farmyard. He could limp the short distance, get under the floor andthen make his way to the ditch. He raised himself on his forelegs.
On the instant he was knocked sideways and felt himself pressed down. Therewas a light but sharp pricking41 beneath the fur across his back. He lashed42 out withhis hind35 legs, but struck nothing. He turned his head. The cat was on him,crouched half across his body. Its whiskers brushed his ear. Its great green eyes,the pupils contracted to vertical43 black slits44 in the sunshine, were staring into hisown.
"Can you run?" hissed45 the cat. "I think not".
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1
havoc
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| n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱 | |
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checkered
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| adj.有方格图案的 | |
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shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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7
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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hawthorn
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| 山楂 | |
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pylon
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| n.高压电线架，桥塔 | |
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burrowed
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| v.挖掘（洞穴），挖洞( burrow的过去式和过去分词 )；翻寻 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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larks
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| n.百灵科鸟（尤指云雀）( lark的名词复数 )；一大早就起床；鸡鸣即起；（因太费力而不想干时说）算了v.百灵科鸟（尤指云雀）( lark的第三人称单数 )；一大早就起床；鸡鸣即起；（因太费力而不想干时说）算了 | |
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14
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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kennel
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| n.狗舍，狗窝 | |
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gnawed
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| 咬( gnaw的过去式和过去分词 )； （长时间） 折磨某人； （使）苦恼； （长时间）危害某事物 | |
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gnaw
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| v.不断地啃、咬；使苦恼，折磨 | |
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lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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reeking
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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sniffing
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| n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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miasma
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| n.毒气；不良气氛 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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nibble
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| n.轻咬，啃；v.一点点地咬，慢慢啃，吹毛求疵 | |
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pliant
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| adj.顺从的；可弯曲的 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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strands
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| n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 ) | |
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31
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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34
tug
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| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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taut
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| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
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39
jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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40
spurt
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| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
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pricking
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| 刺，刺痕，刺痛感 | |
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42
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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43
vertical
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| adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置 | |
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44
slits
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| n.狭长的口子，裂缝( slit的名词复数 )v.切开，撕开( slit的第三人称单数 )；在…上开狭长口子 | |
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45
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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