rd; and
this annoyed the Pricket very much, for how could his horns be
dropping off, considering that they were only just clean of velvet?
"The old 'un hasn't got no 'orns," said a fourth; "there's an old Cow
in the next field. Shall I go and borrow a pair for you, mum? She'll
be 'appy to lend 'em, I'm sure." And they all burst out laughing
together, "Quar, quar, quar, quar!" And I am sorry to say that the
Ducks laughed even louder than the Mallards.

Altogether they were so rude, and impudent, and vulgar, and odious,
that the Deer walked away with great dignity without saying another
word. And as they went they saw an old grey Fox crouching down in the
rushes by the water-side, as still as a stone, and quite hidden from
view. Then the Hind turned to warn the Ducks, but she could hardly
utter a word before they all came swimming down, laughing, "Quar,
quar, quar," till she couldn't hear herself speak. Presently they
turned to the bank, still laughing, and waddled ashore one after
another; when all of a sudden up jumped the Fox, caught the foremost
Mallard by the neck, threw him over his back, and trotted away
laughing in his turn. And the rest of the ducks flew back to the water
fast enough then, you may be sure, and were sorry when it was too
late that they had been so rude. But the truth is, that these were not
true wild-ducks, but what are called tame wild-ducks, which had been
bought in Leadenhall Market. And this accounted for their bad manners,
their ugly language, and their conceit; for like a great many other
creatures that are bred in towns, they thought they knew everything,
whereas in reality they could not take care of their children nor even
of themselves.

The Hind was very much disgusted, and began to think that she had
wandered too far from the moor, as indeed she had. For on their way
back to Bremridge Wood they were chased by a sheep-dog, and when they
shook him off by jumping a hedge they found themselves in the middle
of a lot of bullocks, which ran together and galloped after them and
tried to mob them. So they decided to have no more to do with a
country where there were so many tame things, but to go straight back
to the moor. The Pricket thought that it might be pleasanter only to
move up to their old home in the woods higher up the valley, but the
Hind was impatient to return to the moor. There was no one to warn her
not to go, and they set out that very same night.

CHAPTER VIII