You will be sure to prove that the act is unjust and hateful to the gods?
Yes, indeed, Socrates; at least, if they will listen to me.
Plato, EuthyphroAs he came to the end of his story, Dandelion remembered that he wassupposed to be relieving Acorn as sentry. The post was a little way away, near theeastern corner of the wood, and Hazel -- who wanted to see how Boxwood andSpeedwell were getting on with a hole they were digging -- went with Dandelionalong the foot of the bank. He was just going down the new hole when he noticedthat some small creature was pattering about in the grass. It was the mouse thathe had saved from the kestrel. Pleased to see that he was still safe and sound,Hazel turned back to have a word with him. The mouse recognized him and satup, washing his face with his front paws and chattering effusively.
"Is a good a days, a hot a days. You like? Plenty for eata, keepa warm is a notrouble. Down in a bottom a hill is a harvest. I go for a corn a, but is a long a way.
I tink a you go away, is a not a long a you come a back, yes?""Yes," said Hazel, "a lot of us went away, but we found what we were lookingfor and now we've come back for good.""Is a good. Is a lots of rabbits a now, keepa grass a short.""What difference does it make to him if the grass is short?" said Bigwig, who,with Blackavar, was lolloping and nibbling close by. "He doesn't eat it.""Is a good a for get about, you know?" said the mouse in a familiar tone whichmade Bigwig shake his ears with irritation. "Is a run along the queek -- but is a noseeds a from a short a grass. Now is a warren a here and now a today is a new arabbits a come, soon is another warren a more. New rabbits is a your friends atoo?""Yes, yes, all friends," said Bigwig, turning away. "There was something Iwanted to say, Hazel, about the newborn rabbits, when they're ready to comeabove ground."Hazel, however, had remained where he was, looking intently at the mouse.
"Wait a moment, Bigwig," he said. "What did you say, mouse, about anotherwarren? Where is there going to be another warren?"The mouse was surprised. "You not a know? Not a your friends?""I don't know until you tell me. What did you mean about new rabbits andanother warren soon?" His tone was urgent and inquisitive.
The mouse became nervous and, after the manner of his kind, began to saywhat he thought the rabbits would like to hear.
"Maybe is a no warren. Is a plenty good a rabbits 'ere, is all a my friends. Is ano more rabbits. Not a for want other rabbits.""But what other rabbits?" persisted Hazel.
"No, sir. No, sir, no other rabbits, is a not a go for soon a rabbits, all stay 'ereare my friends, a save a me a very good a my life, zen 'ow can I if a she mek me?"twittered the mouse.
Hazel considered this lot briefly, but it beat him.
"Oh, come on, Hazel," said Bigwig. "Let the poor little beast alone. I want totalk to you."Hazel ignored him. Going close to the mouse, he bent his head and spokequietly and firmly.
"You've often said you're our friend," he said. "If you are, tell me, and don't beafraid, what you know about other rabbits coming."The mouse looked confused. Then he said, "I not see other rabbits, sir, but amy brother 'e say yellowhammer say is a new rabbits, plenty, plenty rabbits, cometo combe over on a morning side. Maybe is a lots a rubbish. I tell you a wrong,you no like a mouse for more, not a friend a more.""No, that's all right," said Hazel. "Don't worry. Just tell me again. Where didthe bird say these new rabbits were?""'E say is a come just a now on a morning side. I not a see.""Good fellow," said Hazel. "That's very helpful." He turned back to the others.
"What d'you make of this, Bigwig?" he asked.
"Not much," answered Bigwig. "Long-grass rumors. These little creatures sayanything and change it five times a day. Ask him again fu Inlé -- he'll tell yousomething else.""If you're right, then I'm wrong and we can all forget it," said Hazel. "But I'mgoing to get to the bottom of this. Someone must go and see. I'd go myself, butI've got no speed with this leg.""Well, leave it for tonight, anyway," said Bigwig. "We can--""Someone must go and see," repeated Hazel firmly. "A good patroller, too.
Blackavar, go and get Holly for me, will you?""I'm here, as it happens," said Holly, who had come along the top of the bankwhile Hazel was speaking. "What's the trouble, Hazel-rah?""There's a rumor of strangers on the down, on the morning side," repliedHazel, "and I wish I knew more. Can you and Blackavar run over that way -- say,as far as the top of the combe -- and find out what's going on?""Yes, of course, Hazel-rah," said Holly. "If there really are some other rabbitsthere, we'd better bring them back with us, hadn't we? We could do with a fewmore.""It depends who they are," said Hazel. "That's what I want to find out. Go atonce, Holly, will you? Somehow it worries me not to know."Holly and Blackavar had hardly set off when Speedwell appeared aboveground. He had an excited, triumphant look which attracted everyone's attentionimmediately. He squatted in front of Hazel and looked round him in silence, tomake sure of his effect.
"You've finished the hole?" asked Hazel.
"Never mind the hole," answered Speedwell. "I didn't come up to say that.
Clover's had her litter. All good, healthy kittens. Three bucks and three does, shesays.""You'd better go up in the beech tree and sing that," said Hazel. "See thateverybody knows! But tell them not to go crowding down disturbing her.""I shouldn't think they would," said Bigwig. "Who'd be a kitten again, or evenwant to see one -- blind and deaf and no fur?""Some of the does may want to see them," said Hazel. "They're excited, youknow. But we don't want Clover disturbed into eating them or anything miserablelike that.""It looks as though we really are going to live a natural life again at last, doesn'tit?" said Bigwig, as they browsed their way along the bank. "What a summer it'sbeen! I keep dreaming I'm back in Efrafa, you know; but it'll pass off, I suppose.
One thing I brought back out of that place, though, and that's the value of keepinga warren hidden. As we get bigger, Hazel, we ought to take care of that. We'll dobetter than Efrafa, though. When we've reached the right size, rabbits can beencouraged to leave.""Well, don't you leave," said Hazel, "or I'll tell Kehaar to bring you back by thescruff of the neck. I'm relying on you to produce us a really good Owsla.""It's certainly something to look forward to," said Bigwig. "Take a pack ofyoung fellows across to the f............