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made； and the night wore on； but early in the morning； Thor was
again awakened rudely by the sound of lapping water by his bed；
and there； as before； were the glowing eyeballs； the great head；
the gray form relieved by the dim light from the dawning window。
Thor put all his strength into what was meant for a bold shout；
but it was merely a feeble screech。 He rose slowly and called
out： 〃Loo； Margat！ The Lynxhere's the Lynx again！〃
〃May God help ye； for we can't；〃 was the answer。
〃Sssh…hi！〃 Thor tried again to drive the Beast away。 It leaped on
to the table by the window and stood up growling under the
useless gun。 Thor thought it was going to leap through the glass
as it faced the window a moment； but it turned and glared toward
the Boy； for he could see both eyes shining。 He rose slowly to
the side of his bunk and he prayed for help； for he felt it was
kill or be killed。 He struck a match and lighted his pine…root
candle； held that in his left hand and in his right took the old
fish…spear； meaning to fight； but he was so weak he had to use
the fish…spear as a crutch。 The great Beast stood on the table
still； but was crouching a little as though for a spring。 Its
eyes glowed red in the torchlight。 Its short tail was switching
from side to side and its growling took a higher pitch。 Thor's
knees were smiting together； but he levelled the spear and made a
feeble lunge toward the brute。 It sprang at the same moment； not
at him； as he first thoughtthe torch and the boy's bold front
had had effectit went over his head to drop on the ground
beyond and at once to slink under the bunk。
This was only a temporary repulse。 Thor set the torch on a ledge
of the logs； then took the spear in both hands。 He was fighting
for his life； and he knew it。 He heard the voices of the women
feebly praying。 He saw only the glowing eyes under the bed and
heard the growling in higher pitch as the Beast was nearing
action。 He steadied himself by a great effort and plunged the
spear with all the force he could give it。
It struck something softer than the logs： a hideous snarl came
forth。 The boy threw all his weight on the weapon； the Beast was
struggling to get at him； he felt its teeth and claws grating on
the handle； and in spite of himself it was coming on； its
powerful arms and claws were reaching for him now； he could not
hold out long。 He put on all his force； just a little more it was
than before； the Beast lurched； there was a growling； a crack；
and a sudden yielding； the rotten old spear…head had broken off；
the Beast sprang outat himpast him never touched him； but
across through the hole and away； to be seen no more。
Thor fell on the bed and lost all consciousness。
He lay there he knew not how long； but was awakened in broad
daylight by a loud； cheery voice：
〃Hello！ Hello！are ye all dead？ Loo！ Thor！ Margat！〃
He had no strength to answer； but there was a trampling of horses
outside； a heavy step； the door was forced open； and in strode
Corney； handsome and hearty as ever。 But what a flash of horror
and pain came over his face on entering the silent shanty！
〃Dead？〃 he gasped。 〃Who's deadwhere are you？ Thor？〃 Then； 〃Who
is it？ Loo？ Margat？〃
〃CorneyCorney；〃 came feebly from the bunk。 〃They're in there。
They're awful sick。 We have nothing to eat。〃
〃Oh； what a fool I be！〃 said Corney again and again。 〃I made sure
ye'd go to Ellerton's and get all ye wanted。〃
〃We had no chance； Corney； we were all three brought down at
once； right after you left。 Then the Lynx came and cleared up the
Hens； and all in the house； too。〃
〃Well； ye got even with her；〃 and Corney pointed to the trail of
blood across the mud floor and out under the logs。
Good food； nursing； and medicine restored them all。
A month or two later； when the women wanted a new
leaching…barrel； Thor said： 〃I know where there is a hollow
basswood as big as a hogshead。〃
He and Corney went to the place； and when they cut off what they
needed； they found in the far end of it the dried…up bodies of
two little Lynxes with that of the mother； and in the side of the
old one was the head of a fish…spear broken from the handle。
LITTLE WARHORSE
The History of a Jack…rabbit
The Little Warhorse knew practically all the Dogs in town。 First；
there was a very large brown Dog that had pursued him many times；
a Dog that he always got rid of by slipping through a hole in a
board fence。 Second； there was a small active Dog that could
follow through that hole； and him he baffled by leaping a
twenty…foot irrigation ditch that had steep sides and a swift
current。 The Dog could not make this leap。 It was 〃sure medicine〃
for that foe； and the boys still call the place 〃Old Jacky's
Jump。〃 But there was a Greyhound that could leap better than the
Jack； and when he could not follow through a fence； he jumped
over it。 He tried the Warhorse's mettle more than once； and Jacky
only saved himself by his quick dodging； till they got to an
Osage hedge； and here the Greyhound had to give it up。 Besides
these； there was in town a rabble of big and little Dogs that
were troublesome； but easily left behind in the open。
In the country there was a Dog at each farm…house； but only one
that the Warhorse really feared； that was a long…legged； fierce；
black Dog； a brute so swift and pertinacious that he had several
times forced the Warhorse almost to the last extremity。
For the town Cats he cared little； only once or twice had he been
threatened by them。 A huge Tom…cat flushed with many victories
came crawling up to where he fed one moonlight night。 Jack
Warhorse saw the black creature with the glowing eyes； and a
moment before the final rush； he faced it； raised up on his
haunches；his hind legs；at full length on his toes；with his
broad ears towering up yet six inches higher； then letting out a
loud churrr…churrr； his best attempt at a roar； he sprang five
feet forward and landed on the Cat's head； driving in his sharp
hind nails； and the old Tom fled in terror from the weird
two…legged giant。 This trick he had tried several times with
success； but twice it turned out a sad failure： once； when the
Cat proved to be a mother whose Kittens were near； then Jack
Warhorse had to flee for his life； and the other time was when he
made the mistake of landing hard on a Skunk。
But the Greyhound was the dangerous enemy； and in him the
Warhorse might have found his fate； but for a curious adventure
with a happy ending for Jack。
He fed by night； there were fewer enemies about then； and it was
easier to hide； but one day at dawn in winter he had lingered
long at an alfalfa stack and was crossing the open snow toward
his favorite form； when； as ill…luck would have it； he met the
Greyhound prowling outside the town。 With open snow and growing
daylight there was no chance to hide； nothing but a run in the
open with soft snow that hindered the Jack more than it did the
Hound。
Off they wentsuperb runners in fine fettle。 how they skimmed
across the snow； raising it in little puff…puff…puffs； each time
their nimble feet went down。 This way and that； swerving and
dodging； went the chase。 Everything favored the Dog；his empty
stomach； the cold weather； the soft snow；while the Rabbit was
handicapped by his heavy meal of alfalfa。 But his feet went
puffpuff so fast that a dozen of the little snow…jets were in
view at once。 The chase continued in the open； no friendly hedge
was near； and every attempt to reach a fence was cleverly stopped
by the Hound。 Jack's ears were losing their bold up…cock； a
sure sign of failing heart or wind； when all at once these flags
went stiffly up； as under sudden renewal of strength。 The
Warhorse put forth all his power； not to reach the hedge to the
north； but over the open prairie eastward。 The Greyhound
followed； and within fifty yards the Jack dodged to foil his
fierce pursuer； but on the next tack he was on his eastern course
again； and so tacking and dodging； he kept the line direct for
the next farm…house； where was a very high board fence with a
hen…hole； and where also there dwelt his other hated enemy； the
big black Dog。 An outer hedge delayed the Greyhound for a moment
and gave Jack time to dash through the hen…hole into the yard；
where he hid to one side。 The Greyhound rushed around to the low
gate； leaped over that among the Hens； and as they fled cackling
and fluttering； some Lambs bleated loudly。 Their natural
guardian； the big black Dog； ran to the rescue； and Warhorse
slipped out again by the hole at which he had entered。 Horrible
sounds of Dog hate and fury were heard behind him in the
hen…yard； and soon the shouts of men were added。 How it ended he
did not know or seek to learn； but it was remarkable that he
never afterward was troubled by the swift Greyhound that formerly
lived in Newchusen。
II
Hard times and easy times had long followed in turn and been
taken as matters of course； but recent years in the State of
Kaskado had brought to the Jack…rabbits a succession of
remarkable ups and downs。 In the old days they had their endless
fight with Birds and Beasts of Prey； with cold and heat； with
pestilence and with flies whose