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As soon as they were well gone； Jack turned； and with…out even a
〃Thank you； Pussy；〃 he fled to the open and away on the
hard…beaten road。
The Cat had been rescued by the lady of the house； the Dog was
once more sprawling on the boards when the man on Jack's trail
arrived。 He carried； not a gun； but a stout stick； sometimes
called 〃dog…medicine；〃 and that was all that prevented the Dog
attacking the enemy of his prey。
This seemed to be the end of the trail。 The trick； whether
planned or not； was a success； and the Rabbit got rid of his
troublesome follower。
Next day the stranger made another search for the Jack and found；
not himself； but his track。 He knew it by its tail…mark； its long
leaps and few spy…hops； but with it and running by it was the
track of a smaller Rabbit。 Here is where they met； here they
chased each other in play； for no signs of battle were there to
be seen； here they fed or sat together in the sun； there they
ambled side by side； and here again they sported in the snow；
always together。 There was only one conclusion： this was the
mating season。 This was a pair of Jack…rabbitsthe Little
Warhorse and his mate。
IV
Next summer was a wonderful year for the Jack…rabbits。 A foolish
law had set a bounty on Hawks and Owls and had caused a general
massacre of these feathered policemen。 Consequently the Rabbits
had multiplied in such numbers that they now were threatening to
devastate the country。
The farmers； who were the sufferers from the bounty law； as well
as the makers of it； decided on a great Rabbit drive。 All the
county was invited to come； on a given morning； to the main road
north of the county； with the intention of sweeping the whole
region up…wind and at length driving the Rabbits into a huge
corral of close wire netting。 Dogs were barred as unmanageable；
and guns as dangerous in a crowd； but every man and boy carried a
couple of long sticks and a bag full of stones。 Women came on
horseback and in buggies； many carried rattles or horns and tins
to make a noise。 A number of the buggies trailed a string of old
cans or tied laths to scrape on the wheel…spokes； and thus add no
little to the deafening clatter of the drive。 As Rabbits have
marvellously sensitive hearing； a noise that is distracting to
mankind； is likely to prove bewildering to them。
The weather was right； and at eight in the morning the word to
advance was given。 The line was about five miles long at first；
and there was a man or a boy every thirty or forty yards。 The
buggies and riders kept perforce almost entirely to the roads；
but the beaters were supposed； as a point of honor； to face
everything； and keep the front unbroken。 The advance was roughly
in three sides of a square。 Each man made as much noise as he
could； and threshed every bush in his path。 A number of Rabbits
hopped out。 Some made for the lines； to be at once assailed by a
shower of stones that laid many of them low。 One or two did get
through and escaped； but the majority were swept before the
drive。 At first the number seen was small； but before three miles
were covered the Rabbits were running ahead in every direction。
After five milesand that took about three hoursthe word for
the wings to close in was given。 The space between the men was
shortened up till they were less than ten feet apart； and the
whole drive converged on the corral with its two long guide wings
or fences； the end lines joined these wings； and the surround was
complete。 The drivers marched rapidly now； scores of the Rabbits
were killed as they ran too near the beaters。 Their bodies
strewed the ground； but the swarms seemed to increase； and in the
final move； before the victims were cooped up in the corral； the
two…acre space surrounded was a whirling throng of skurrying；
jumping； bounding Rabbits。 Round and round they circled and
leaped； looking for a chance to escape； but the inexorable crowd
grew thicker as the ring grew steadily smaller； and the whole
swarm was forced along the chute into the tight corral； some to
squat stupidly in the middle； some to race round the outer wall；
some to seek hiding in corners or under each other。
And the Little Warhorsewhere was he in all this？ The drive had
swept him along； and he had been one of the first to enter the
corral。 But a curious plan of selection had been established。 The
pen was to be a death…trap for the Rabbits； except the best； the
soundest。 And many were there that were unsound； those that think
of all wild animals as pure and perfect things； would have been
shocked to see how many halt； maimed； and diseased there were in
that pen of four thousand or five thousand Jack…rabbits。
It was a Roman victorythe rabble of prisoners was to be
butchered。 The choicest were to be reserved for the arena。 The
arena？ Yes； that is the Coursing Park。
In that corral trap； prepared beforehand for the Rabbits； were a
number of small boxes along the wall； a whole series of them；
five hundred at least； each large enough to hold one Jack。
In the last rush of driving； the swiftest Jacks got first to the
pen。 Some were swift and silly； when once inside they rushed
wildly round and round。 Some were swift and wise； they quickly
sought the hiding afforded by the little boxes； all of these were
now full。 Thus five hundred of the swiftest and wisest had been
selected； in； not by any means an infallible way； but the
simplest and readiest。 These five hundred were destined to be
coursed by Greyhounds。 The surging mass of over four thousand
were ruthlessly given to slaughter。
Five hundred little boxes with five hundred bright…eyed
Jack…rabbits were put on the train that day； and among them was
Little Jack Warhorse。
V
Rabbits take their troubles lightly； and it is not to be supposed
that any great terror was felt by the boxed Jacks； once the
uproar of the massacre was over； and when they reached the
Coursing Park near the great city and were turned out one by one；
very gently；yes； gently； the Roman guards were careful of their
prisoners； being responsible for them；the Jacks found little to
complain of； a big inclosure with plenty of good food； and no
enemies to annoy them。
The very next morning their training began。 A score of hatchways
were opened into a much larger fieldthe Park。 After a number of
Jacks had wandered out through these doors a rabble of boys
appeared and drove them back； pursuing them noisily until all
were again in the smaller field； called the Haven。 A few days of
this taught the Jack…rabbits that when pursued their safety was
to get back by one of the hatches into the Haven。
Now the second lesson began。 The whole band were driven out of a
side door into a long lane which led around three sides of the
Park to another inclosure at the far end。 This was the Starting
Pen。 Its door into the arenathat is； the Parkwas opened； the
Rabbits driven forth； and then a mob of boys and Dogs in hiding；
burst forth and pursued them across the open。 The whole army went
bobbing and bounding away； some of the younger ones soaring in a
spy…hop； as a matter of habit； but low skimming ahead of them all
was a gorgeous black…and…white one； clean…limbed and bright…eyed；
he had attracted attention in the pen； but now in the field he
led the band with easy lope that put him as far ahead of them all
as they were ahead of the rabble of common Dogs。
〃Luk at thot； would yebut ain't he a Little Warhorse？〃 shouted
a villainous…looking Irish stable…boy； and thus he was named。
When halfway across the course the Jacks remembered the Haven；
and all swept toward it and in like a snow…cloud over the drifts。
This was the second lessonto lead straight for the Haven as
soon as driven from the Pen。 In a week all had learned it； and
were ready for the great opening meet of the Coursing Club。
The Little Warhorse was now well known to the grooms and
hangers…on； his colors usually marked him clearly； and his
leadership was in a measure recognized by the long…eared herd
that fled with him。 He figured more or less with the Dogs in the
talk and betting of the men。
〃Wonder if old Dignam is going to enter Minkie this year？〃
〃Faix； an' if he does I bet the Little Warhorse will take the
gimp out av her an' her runnin' mate。〃
〃I'll bet three to one that my old Jen will pick the Warhorse up
before he passes the grand stand；〃 growled a dog…man。
〃An' it's meself will take thot bet in dollars；〃 said Mickey；
〃an'； moore than thot； Oi'll put up a hull month's stuff thot
there ain't a dog in the mate thot kin turrn the Warrhorrse oncet
on the hull coorse。〃
So they wrangled and wagered； but each day； as they put the
Rabbits through their paces； there were more of those who
believed that they had found a wonderful runner in the Warhorse；
one that would give the best Greyhounds something that is rarely
seen； a straight stern chase from Start to Grand Stand and Haven。
VI
The first morning of the meet arrived bright and promising。 The
Grand Stand was filled with a city crowd。 The usual types of a
racecourse appeared in force。 Here and there were to be seen the
dog…grooms leading in leash single Greyhounds or couples；
shrouded in blank