3
The Story of King Fur-Rocious
Think where man's glory most begins and ends
And say my glory was I had such friends.
W. B. YEATS, "The Municipal Gallery Revisited"
The rain was falling across Watership Down in long, billowing clouds, drenching the turf and the beech trees of the hanger. Hazel and several other rabbits were sitting snugly underground in the Honeycomb, some grooming themselves, others chatting of sunny days to come. Kehaar had arrived from the south a few days before and was sitting halfway down his run in quiet contentment.
"Who'll tell a story?" asked Bigwig, rolling over on the floor. "Dandelion?"
"Let someone else for a change," answered Dandelion.
"Bluebell, tell us that one you told me last year: about Elahrairah and the war with King Fur-Rocious. They haven't heard it, I know."
"That was the only time Elahrairah ever went to war," said Bluebell. "The first and the last."
"Did he win?" asked Silver.
"Oh, yes, of course; but it was how he did it that was so clever. If he hadn't, we wouldn't be here."
*
As we all know (Bluebell continued), rabbits never really go to war; and certainly Elahrairah had no need
to, living his happy life on the downs, until one day, as he was basking in the sun, he got a sudden shock. Rabscuttle came tearing over the grass, and it was plain that he was bringing important news.
"Master!" panted Rabscuttle. "There are thousands of rabbits--stranger rabbits--coming. Enough to eat up the whole Down and turn us out of burrow and home. There's only one thing for it. We must run while there's still time."
"I never run," answered Elahrairah lazily. "I must see these stranger rabbits for myself. Let them come."
In a few moments he saw them, all right, coming up the Down in hordes. Elahrairah had never seen so many rabbits in his life. They covered all the grass. In the middle was a huge rabbit, as big as a here, who came up to Elahrairah and bared his teeth.
"You're Elahrairah, aren't you?" said the gigantic rabbit. "You'd better get out of here while you can. This is my Down now, and my rabbits are going to live here."
Elahrairah looked the rabbit over. "Who are you," he asked, "and what's your name?"
"I'm King Fur-Rocious," replied the rabbit, "and I'm not only lord of rabbits but of rats and weasels and stoats as well. You must hand over all your rabbits to me."
Elahrairah could see that if he tried to fight King Fur-Rocious he would have no hope at all, so he simply turned round and went away, to give himself a chance to think what was best to be done. But he hadn't gone very far when there was a pattering noise, and Rabscuttle came rushing after him.
"Oh, master!" cried Rabscuttle. "That wretched King Fur-Rocious! He's taken your favorite doe, Nur-Rama, and says he means to keep her for himself."
"What?" cried Elahrairah. "Nur-Rama? I'll take him to pieces, you see if I don't!"
"I can't imagine how," replied Rabscuttle. "His rabbits are all over the Down, and he's even got rats and weasels that he's holding as prisoners. I'm afraid it's a bad lookout for us, Elahrairah."
At this, Elahrairah's heart sank, for it was not at all like Rabscuttle to talk like this. He decided that the best thing he could do was to go and petition Prince Rainbow, who had told him a long time ago that he and his people were free to live on the Down and keep it for their own.
He reached Prince Rainbow soon after ni-Frith, and told him his sorry story.
"I cannot help you, Elahrairah, I am afraid," said Prince Rainbow, when he had heard all he had to say. "You will have to defeat this King Fur-Rocious yourself. There's no other way."
"But how?" asked Elahrairah. "He has more rabbits than there are daisies on the Down, and in fact I believe they'll soon have eaten all the grass."
"I'll give you a word of advice, Elahrairah," said Prince Rainbow. "A tyrant is usually hated by many different kinds of people. This Fur-Rocious no doubt has other enemies, not merely rabbits. You will need friends and allies."