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fight with Birds and Beasts of Prey； with cold and heat； with
pestilence and with flies whose sting bred a loathsome disease；
and yet had held their own。 But the settling of the country by
farmers made many changes。
Dogs and guns arriving in numbers reduced the ranks of Coyotes；
Foxes； Wolves； Badgers； and Hawks that preyed on the Jack； so
that in a few years the Rabbits were multiplied in great swarms；
but now Pestilence broke out and swept them away。 Only the
strongestthe double…seasonedremained。 For a while a
Jack…rabbit was a rarity； but during this time another change
came in。 The Osage…orange hedges planted everywhere afforded a
new refuge； and now the safety of a Jack…rabbit was less often
his speed than his wits； and the wise ones； when pursued by a Dog
or Coyote； would rush to the nearest hedge through a small hole
and escape while the enemy sought for a larger one by which to
follow。 The Coyotes rose to this and developed the trick of the
relay chase。 In this one Coyote takes one field； another the
next； and if the Rabbit attempts the 〃hedge…ruse〃 they work from
each side and usually win their prey。 The Rabbit remedy for this；
is keen eyes to see the second Coyote； avoidance of that field；
then good legs to distance the first enemy。
Thus the Jack…rabbits； after being successively numerous； scarce；
in myriads； and rare； were now again on the increase； and those
which survived； selected by a hundred hard trials； were enabled
to flourish where their ancestors could not have outlived a
single season。
Their favorite grounds were； not the broad open stretches of the
big ranches； but the complicated； much…fenced fields of the
farms； where these were so small and close as to be like a big
straggling village。
One of these vegetable villages had sprung up around the railway
station of Newchusen。 The country a mile away was well supplied
with Jack…rabbits of the new and selected stock。 Among them was a
little lady Rabbit called 〃Bright…eyes；〃 from her leading
characteristic as she sat gray in the gray brush。
She was a good runner； but was especially successful with the
fence…play that baffled the Coyotes。 She made her nest out in an
open pasture； an untouched tract of the ancient prairie。 Here her
brood were born and raised。 One like herself was bright…eyed； in
coat of silver…gray； and partly gifted with her ready wits； but
in the other； there appeared a rare combination of his mother's
gifts with the best that was in the best strain of the new
Jack…rabbits of the plains。
This was the one whose adventures we have been following； the one
that later on the turf won the name of Little Warhorse and that
afterward achieved a world…wide fame。
Ancient tricks of his kind he revived and put to new uses； and
ancient enemies he learned to fight with new…found tricks。
When a mere baby he discovered a plan that was worthy of the
wisest Rabbit in Kaskado。 He was pursued by a horrible little
Yellow Dog； and he had tried in vain to get rid of him by dodging
among the fields and farms。 This is good play against a Coyote；
because the farmers and the Dogs will often help the Jack；
without knowing it； by attacking the Coyote。 But now the plan did
not work at all； for the little Dog managed to keep after him
through one fence after another； and Jack Warhorse； not yet
full…grown； much less seasoned； was beginning to feel the strain。
His ears were no longer up straight； but angling back and at
times drooping to a level； as he darted through a very little
hole in an Osage hedge； only to find that his nimble enemy had
done the same without loss of time。 In the middle of the field
was a small herd of cattle and with them a calf。
There is in wild animals a curious impulse to trust any stranger
when in desperate straits。 The foe behind they know means death。
There is just a chance； and the only one left； that the stranger
may prove friendly； and it was this last desperate chance that
drew Jack Warhorse to the Cows。
It is quite sure that the Cows would have stood by in stolid
indifference so far as the Rabbit was concerned； but they have a
deep…rooted hatred of a dog； and when they saw the Yellow Cur
coming bounding toward them； their tails and noses went up； they
sniffed angrily； then closed up ranks； and led by the Cow that
owned the Calf； they charged at the Dog； while Jack took refuge
under a low thorn…bush。 The Dog swerved aside to attack the Calf；
at least the old Cow thought he did； and she followed him so
fiercely that he barely escaped from that field with his life。
It was a good old planone that doubtless came from the days
when Buffalo and Coyote played the parts of Cow and Dog。 Jack
never forgot it； and more than once it saved his life。
In color as well as in power he was a rarity。
Animals are colored in one or other of two general plans： one
that matches them with their surroundings and helps them to
hidethis is called 〃protective〃； the other that makes them very
visible for several purposesthis is called 〃directive。〃
Jack…rabbits are peculiar in being painted both ways。 As they
squat in their form in the gray brush or clods； they are soft
gray on their ears； head； back； and sides； they match the ground
and cannot be seen until close at handthey are protectively
colored。 But the moment it is clear to the Jack that the
approaching foe will find him； he jumps up and dashes away。 He
throws off all disguise now； the gray seems to disappear； he
makes a lightning change； and his ears show snowy white with
black tips； the legs are white； his tail is a black spot in a
blaze of white。 He is a black…and…white Rabbit now。 His coloring
is all directive。 How is it done？ Very simply。 The front side of
the ear is gray； the back； black and white。 The black tail with
its white halo； and the legs； are tucked below。 He is sitting on
them。 The gray mantle is pulled down and enlarged as he sits； but
when he jumps up it shrinks somewhat； all his black…and…white
marks are now shown； and just as his colors formerly whispered；
〃I am a clod；〃 they now shout aloud； 〃I am a Jack…rabbit。〃
Why should he do this？ Why should a timid creature running for
his life thus proclaim to all the world his name instead of
trying to hide？ There must be some good reason。 It must pay； or
the Rabbit would never have done it。
The answer is； if the creature that scared him up was one of his
own kindi。e。； this was a false alarmthen at once； by showing
his national colors； the mistake is made right。 On the other
hand； if it be a Coyote； Fox； or Dog； they see at once； this is a
Jack…rabbit； and know that it would be waste of time for them to
pursue him。 They say in effect； 〃This is a Jack…rabbit； and I
cannot catch a Jack in open race。〃 They give it up； and that； of
course； saves the Jack a great deal of unnecessary running and
worry。 The black…and…white spots are the national uniform and
flag of the Jacks。 In poor specimens they are apt to be dull； but
in the finest specimens they are not only larger； but brighter
than usual； and the Little Warhorse； gray when he sat in his
form； blazed like charcoal and snow； when he flung his defiance
to the Fox and buff Coyote； and danced with little effort before
them； first a black…and…white Jack； then a little white spot； and
last a speck of thistledown； before the distance swallowed him。
Many of the farmers' Dogs had learned the lesson： 〃A grayish
Rabbit you may catch； but a very black…and…white one is
hopeless。〃 They might； indeed； follow for a time； but that was
merely for the fun of a chivvy； and his growing power often led
Warhorse to seek the chase for the sake of a little excitement；
and to take hazards that others less gifted were most careful to
avoid。
Jack； like all other wild animals； had a certain range or country
which was home to him； and outside of this he rarely strayed。 It
was about three miles across； extending easterly from the centre
of the village。 Scattered through this he had a number of
〃forms；〃 or 〃beds〃 as they are locally called。 These were mere
hollows situated under a sheltering bush or bunch of grass；
without lining excepting the accidental grass and in…blown
leaves。 But comfort was not forgotten。 Some of them were for hot
weather； they faced the north； were scarcely sunk； were little
more than shady places。 Some for the cold weather were deep
hollows with southern exposure； and others for the wet were well
roofed with herbage and faced the west。 In one or other of these
he spent the day； and at night he went forth to feed with his
kind； sporting and romping on the moonlight nights like a lot of
puppy Dogs； but careful to be gone by sunrise； and safely tucked
in a bed that was suited to the weather。
The safest ground for the Jacks was among the farms； where not
only Osage hedges； but also the newly arrived barb…wire； made
hurdles and hazards in the path of possible enemies。 But the
finest of the forage is nearer to the village among the
truck…farmsthe finest of forage and the fiercest of dangers。
Some of the dangers of the plains were lacking； but the greater
perils of men； guns； Dogs； and impassable fences are much
increased。 Yet those who knew War