'Oh yes,' said Clover, 'I'd like that. But will it be safe? We're all very much afraid of the cats, you know. They come and stare at us sometimes through the wire and it makes us shiver.'
This showed at least the beginnings of sense, thought Blackberry.
'The big rabbit is a match for any cat,' he replied. 'He nearly killed one on the way here tonight.'
'And he doesn't want to fight another if he can help it,' said Bigwig briskly.' So if you do want to eat grass by moonlight, let's go to where Hazel's waiting for us.'
As Bigwig led the way into the yard, he could make out the shape of the cat that he had beaten, watching from the woodpile. Cat-like, it was fascinated by the rabbits and could not leave them alone, but it evidently had no stomach for another fight and as they crossed the yard it stayed where it was.
The pace was frighteningly slow. Boxwood and Clover seemed to have grasped that there was some sort of urgency and were clearly doing their best to keep up, but the other two rabbits, once they had hopped into the yard, sat up and looked about them in a foolish manner, completely at a loss. After a good deal of delay, during which the cat left the woodpile and began to move stealthily round towards the side of the shed, Blackberry managed to get them out into the farmyard. But here, finding themselves in an even more open place, they settled into a kind of static panic, like that which sometimes comes upon inexperienced climbers exposed on a sheer face. They could not move, but sat blinking and staring about them in the darkness, taking no notice of Blackberry's coaxing or Bigwig's orders. At this moment a second cat - Hazel's tabby - came round the farther end of the farmhouse and made towards them. As it passed the kennel the Labrador woke and sat up, thrusting out its head and shoulders and looking first to one side and then the other. It saw the rabbits, ran to the length of its rope and began to bark.
'Come on!' said Bigwig. 'We can't stay here. Up the lane, everybody, and quickly too.' Blackberry, Speedwell and Hawkbit ran at once, taking Boxwood and Clover with them into the darkness under the barn. Dandelion remained beside Haystack, begging her to move and expecting every moment to feel the cat's claws in his back. Bigwig leapt across to him.
'Dandelion,' he said in his ear, 'get out of it, unless you want to be killed!'
'But the -' began Dandelion.
'Do as I say!' said Bigwig. The noise of barking was fearful and he himself was close to panic. Dandelion hesitated a moment longer. Then he left Haystack and shot up the lane, with Bigwig beside him.
They found the others gathered round Hazel, under the bank. Boxwood and Clover were trembling and seemed exhausted. Hazel was talk
ing to them reassuringly, but broke off as Bigwig appeared out of the dark. The dog stopped barking and there was quiet.
'We're all here,' said Bigwig. 'Shall we go, Hazel?'
'But there were four hutch-rabbits,' said Hazel. 'Where are the other two?'
'In the farmyard,' said Blackberry. 'We couldn't do anything with them: and then the dog began to bark.'
'Yes, I heard it. You mean they're loose?'
'They'll be a lot looser soon,' said Bigwig angrily. 'The cats are there.'
'Why did you leave them, then?'
'Because they wouldn't move. It was bad enough before the dog started.'
'Is the dog tied?' asked Hazel.
'Yes, it's tied. But do you expect any rabbit to stand his ground a few feet from an angry dog?'
'No, of course not,' replied Hazel. 'You've done wonders, Bigwig. They were just telling me, before you came, that you gave one of the cats such a beating that it was afraid to come back for more. Now look, do you think you and Blackberry, with Speedwell here and Hawkbit, can get these two rabbits back to the warren? I'm afraid you may need most of the night. They can't go very fast and you'll have to be patient with them. Dandelion, you come with me, will you?'
'Where, Hazel-rah?'
'To fetch the other two,' said Hazel. 'You're the fastest, so it won't be so dangerous for you, will it? Now, don't hang about, Bigwig, there's a good fellow. I'll see you tomorrow.'
Before Bigwig could reply he had disappeared under the elms. Dandelion remained where he was, looking at Bigwig uncertainly.
'Are you going to do what he says?' asked Bigwig.
'Well, are you?' said Dandelion.
It took Bigwig no more than a moment to realize that if he said he was not, complete disorganization would follow. He could not take all the others back into the farm, and he could not leave them alone. He muttered something about Hazel being too embleer clever by half, cuffed Hawkbit off a sow-thistle he was nibbling and led his five rabbits over the bank into the field. Dandelion, left alone, set off after Hazel into the farmyard.
As he went down the side of the barn, he could hear Hazel out in the open, near the doe Haystack. Neither of the hutch rabbits had moved from where he and Bigwig had left them. The dog had returned to its kennel; but although it was not to be seen, he felt that it was awake and watchful. He came cautiously out of the shadow and approached Hazel.
'I'm just having a chat with Haystack here,' said Hazel. 'I've been explaining that we've got a little way to go. Do you think you could hop across to Laurel and get him to join us?'