choice,” said El-ahrairah.
“But where can we go?” asked Celandine. “On two sides of this warren there’s a river much too broad to swim. The rats would catch our rabbits on the bank. And on the sunset side there’s nothing but the marsh.”
“How wide is that?” asked El-ahrairah.
“None of us know. No one’s ever crossed it. It wouldn’t be possible to cross it. There are no paths. It’s all pools and quagmires. We’d only sink in the mud. But the rats wouldn’t. They’re so much lighter, you see.”
“Well, from what you’ve told me, I think we’ll have to try. Chief Rabbit, I’ll undertake to lead them through the marsh myself, if you’ll back me up and tell them they’ve got to follow me.”
“And what in Frith’s name do
you
know about it?” said Celandine angrily. “A brainless hlessi, who’s only been here a few days.”
“Well, please yourself,” said El-ahrairah. “You haven’t suggested anything else, and I’m ready to do my best for you.”
Then Burdock and Celandine began arguing with eachother to no purpose whatever, impelled, as El-ahrairah could see, by nothing but their own fear and by a sort of panic-stricken notion that if only they could go on talking, something would happen.
“Rabscuttle,” he said quietly, “go round everywhere as quick as you can and tell the rabbits about the rats. Then tell them that you and I are going to guide them across the marsh and that we’ll be starting fu Inlé. Tell them they’re all to meet me by that plane tree over there—do you see the one I mean?—and that there’s no time to lose. If some of them say they won’t come, you can’t stand about arguing. You’ll just have to leave them. And above all, don’t let them think you’re afraid. Act as calm and confident as you can.”
Rabscuttle touched his nose to El-ahrairah’s and was off on the instant. El-ahrairah turned back to Burdock and Celandine, interrupted their argument and told them what he had done. He had expected them to blame and condemn him, perhaps even to attack him and beat him up, but to his surprise they did nothing of the kind. They were sulky and would not give him their approval, but he could tell that inwardly they were glad to have responsibility for the frightening business taken off their backs. If it all went wrong, which they clearly thought it would, they could blame him, but if he succeeded against all likelihood, they could say that they had given him the authority to do his best.
To El-ahrairah, it seemed to take an age for the news to spread over the whole warren; and then more trouble began. Rabbits came from all sides to talk to Burdock, toCelandine and to himself. Some did not believe in the danger and said they would not join with those who were leaving. Others—and these were does—said they had newborn kittens in their burrows and what were they to do? To these he could only reply that if they wanted to save their lives, they must leave their litters and follow him, at which they grew angry. Others again asked him how far it was across the marsh and how long it would take to cross it. He answered that he did not know but was determined to save their lives if he could.
After some time he collected Rabscuttle and went across to the plane tree. He was surprised to find a great many rabbits waiting for him, among them Burdock and Celandine. He spoke to them as encouragingly as he could and praised them for making the right decision—to come with him. Then, as the moon began to rise at his back, he set off without hesitation into the marsh.
Now, the truth was that El-ahrairah knew a little more about marshes than most rabbits, for he had once lived in the dreary marshes of Kelfazin. He had realized that to cross this marsh was the only chance for these rabbits and that since their Chief Rabbit could not, he himself would have to lead them. But he had not thought at all about what this would actually be like. Now, almost at once,
“But where can we go?” asked Celandine. “On two sides of this warren there’s a river much too broad to swim. The rats would catch our rabbits on the bank. And on the sunset side there’s nothing but the marsh.”
“How wide is that?” asked El-ahrairah.
“None of us know. No one’s ever crossed it. It wouldn’t be possible to cross it. There are no paths. It’s all pools and quagmires. We’d only sink in the mud. But the rats wouldn’t. They’re so much lighter, you see.”
“Well, from what you’ve told me, I think we’ll have to try. Chief Rabbit, I’ll undertake to lead them through the marsh myself, if you’ll back me up and tell them they’ve got to follow me.”
“And what in Frith’s name do
you
know about it?” said Celandine angrily. “A brainless hlessi, who’s only been here a few days.”
“Well, please yourself,” said El-ahrairah. “You haven’t suggested anything else, and I’m ready to do my best for you.”
Then Burdock and Celandine began arguing with eachother to no purpose whatever, impelled, as El-ahrairah could see, by nothing but their own fear and by a sort of panic-stricken notion that if only they could go on talking, something would happen.
“Rabscuttle,” he said quietly, “go round everywhere as quick as you can and tell the rabbits about the rats. Then tell them that you and I are going to guide them across the marsh and that we’ll be starting fu Inlé. Tell them they’re all to meet me by that plane tree over there—do you see the one I mean?—and that there’s no time to lose. If some of them say they won’t come, you can’t stand about arguing. You’ll just have to leave them. And above all, don’t let them think you’re afraid. Act as calm and confident as you can.”
Rabscuttle touched his nose to El-ahrairah’s and was off on the instant. El-ahrairah turned back to Burdock and Celandine, interrupted their argument and told them what he had done. He had expected them to blame and condemn him, perhaps even to attack him and beat him up, but to his surprise they did nothing of the kind. They were sulky and would not give him their approval, but he could tell that inwardly they were glad to have responsibility for the frightening business taken off their backs. If it all went wrong, which they clearly thought it would, they could blame him, but if he succeeded against all likelihood, they could say that they had given him the authority to do his best.
To El-ahrairah, it seemed to take an age for the news to spread over the whole warren; and then more trouble began. Rabbits came from all sides to talk to Burdock, toCelandine and to himself. Some did not believe in the danger and said they would not join with those who were leaving. Others—and these were does—said they had newborn kittens in their burrows and what were they to do? To these he could only reply that if they wanted to save their lives, they must leave their litters and follow him, at which they grew angry. Others again asked him how far it was across the marsh and how long it would take to cross it. He answered that he did not know but was determined to save their lives if he could.
After some time he collected Rabscuttle and went across to the plane tree. He was surprised to find a great many rabbits waiting for him, among them Burdock and Celandine. He spoke to them as encouragingly as he could and praised them for making the right decision—to come with him. Then, as the moon began to rise at his back, he set off without hesitation into the marsh.
Now, the truth was that El-ahrairah knew a little more about marshes than most rabbits, for he had once lived in the dreary marshes of Kelfazin. He had realized that to cross this marsh was the only chance for these rabbits and that since their Chief Rabbit could not, he himself would have to lead them. But he had not thought at all about what this would actually be like. Now, almost at once,
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