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〃Oh； you get out。〃
Many more Rabbits had been added to the pen；big and small；
peaceful and warlike；and one big Buck of savage instincts；
seeing Jack Warhorse's hurried dash into the Haven that morning；
took advantage of the moment to attack him。
At another time Jack would have thumped his skull； as he once did
the Cat's； and settled the affair in a minute； but now it took
several minutes； during which he himself got roughly handled； so
when the afternoon came he was suffering from one or two bruises
and stiffening wounds； not serious； indeed； but enough to lower
his speed。
The start was much like those of previous runs。 The Warhorse
steaming away low and lightly； his ears up and the breezes
whistling through his thirteen stars。
Minkie with Fango； the new Dog； bounded in eager pursuit； but； to
the surprise of the starters； the gap grew smaller。 The Warhorse
was losing ground； and right before the Grand Stand old Minkie
turned him； and a cheer went up from the dog…men； for all knew
the runners。 Within fifty yards Fango scored a turn； and the race
was right back to the start。 There stood Slyman and Mickey。 The
Rabbit dodged； the Greyhounds plunged； Jack could not get away；
and just as the final snap seemed near； the Warhorse leaped
straight for Mickey； and in an instant was hidden in his arms；
while the starter's feet flew out in energetic kicks to repel the
furious Dogs。 It is not likely that the Jack knew Mickey for a
friend； he only yielded to the old instinct to fly from a certain
enemy to a neutral or a possible friend； and； as luck would have
it； he had wisely leaped and well。 A cheer went up from the
benches as Mickey hurried back with his favorite。 But the dog…men
protested 〃it wasn't a fair runthey wanted it finished。〃 They
appealed to the Steward。 He had backed the Jack against Fango。 He
was sore now； and ordered a new race。
An hour's rest was the best Mickey could get for him。 Then he
went as before； with Fango and Minkie in pursuit。 He seemed less
stiff nowhe ran more like himself； but a little past the Stand
he was turned by Fango and again by Minkie； and back and across；
and here and there； leaping frantically and barely eluding his
foes。 For several minutes it lasted。 Mickey could see that Jack's
ears were sinking。 The new Dog leaped。 Jack dodged almost under
him to escape； and back only to meet the second Dog； and now both
ears were flat on his back。 But the Hounds were suffering too。
Their tongues were lolling out； their jaws and heaving sides were
splashed with foam。 The Warhorse's ears went up again。 His
courage seemed to revive in their distress。 He made a straight
dash for the Haven； but the straight dash was just what the
Hounds could do； and within a hundred yards he was turned again；
to begin another desperate game of zigzag。 Then the dog…men saw
danger for their Dogs； and two new ones were slippedtwo fresh
Hounds； surely they could end the race。 But they did not。 The
first two were vanquishedgaspingout of it； but the next two
were racing near。 The Warhorse put forth all his strength。 He
left the first two far behindwas nearly to the Haven when the
second two came up。
Nothing but dodging could save him now。 His ears were sinking；
his heart was pattering on his ribs； but his spirit was strong。
He flung himself in wildest zigzags。 The Hounds tumbled over each
other。 Again and again they thought they had him。 One of them
snapped off the end of his long black tail； yet he escaped； but
he could not get to the Haven。 The luck was against him。 He was
forced nearer to the Grand Stand。 A thousand ladies were
watching。 The time limit was up。 The second Dogs were suffering；
when Mickey came running； yelling like a
madmanwordsimprecationscrazy sounds：
〃Ye blackguard hoodlums！ Ye dhirty； cowardly bastes！〃 and he
rushed furiously at the Dogs； intent to do them bodily harm。
Officers came running and shouting； and Mickey； shrieking hatred
and defiance； was dragged from the field； reviling Dogs and men
with every horrid； insulting name he could think of or invent。
〃Fair play！ Whayer's yer fair play； ye liars； ye dhirty cheats；
ye bloody cowards！〃 And they drove him from the arena。 The last
he saw of it was the four foaming Dogs feebly dodging after a
weak and worn…out Jack…rabbit； and the judge on his Horse
beckoning to the man with the gun。
The gate closed behind him； and Mickey heard a bang…bang； an
unusual uproar mixed with yelps of Dogs； and he knew that Little
Jack Warhorse had been served with finish No。 4。
All his life he had loved Dogs； but his sense of fair play was
outraged。 He could not get in； nor see in from where he was。 He
raced along the lane to the Haven； where he might get a good
view； and arrived in time to seeLittle Jack Warhorse with his
half…masted ears limp into the Haven； and he realized at once
that the man with the gun had missed； had hit the wrong runner；
for there was the crowd at the Stand watching two men who were
carrying a wounded Greyhound； while a veterinary surgeon was
ministering to another that was panting on the ground。
Mickey looked about； seized a little shipping…box； put it at the
angle of the Haven； carefully drove the tired thing into it；
closed the lid； then； with the box under his arm； he scaled the
fence unseen in the confusion and was gone。
'It didn't matter； he had lost his job anyway。' He tramped away
from the city。 He took the train at the nearest station and
travelled some hours； and now he was in Rabbit country again。 The
sun had long gone down； the night with its stars was over the
plain when among the farms； the Osage and alfalfa； Mickey
Doo opened the box and gently put the Warhorse out。
Grinning as he did so； he said： 〃Shure an' it's ould Oireland
thot's proud to set the thirteen stars at liberty wance moore。〃
For a moment the Little Warhorse gazed in doubt； then took three
or four long leaps and a spy…hop to get his bearings。 Now
spreading his national colors and his honor…marked ears； he
bounded into his hard…won freedom； strong as ever； and melted
into the night of his native plain。
He has been seen many times in Kaskado； and there have been many
Rabbit drives in that region； but he seems to know some means of
baffling them now； for； in all the thousands that have been
trapped and corralled； they have never since seen the
star…spangled ears of Little jack Warhorse。
SNAP
THE STORY OF A BULL…TERRIER
I
It was dusk on Hallowe'en when first I saw him。 Early in the
morning I had received a telegram from my college chum Jack：
〃Lest we forget。 Am sending you a remarkable pup。 Be polite to
him； it's safer。〃 It would have been just like Jack to have sent
an infernal machine or a Skunk rampant and called it a pup； so I
awaited the hamper with curiosity。 When it arrived I saw it was
marked 〃Dangerous；〃 and there came from within a high…pitched
snarl at every slight provocation。 On peering through the wire
netting I saw it was not a baby Tiger but a small white
Bull…terrier。 He snapped at me and at any one or anything that
seemed too abrupt or too near for proper respect； and his
snarling growl was unpleasantly frequent。 Dogs have two growls：
one deep…rumbled； and chesty； that is polite warningthe retort
courteous； the other mouthy and much higher in pitch： this is the
last word before actual onslaught。 The Terrier's growls were all
of the latter kind。 I was a dog…man and thought I knew all about
Dogs； so； dismissing the porter； I got out my all…round
jackknifetoothpicknailhammer…hatchet…toolbox…fire…shovel； a
specialty of our firm； and lifted the netting。 Oh； yes； I knew
all about Dogs。 The little fury had been growling out a
whole…souled growl for every tap of the tool； and when I turned
the box on its side； he made a dash straight for my legs。 Had not
his foot gone through the wire netting and held him； I might have
been hurt； for his heart was evidently in his work； but I stepped
on the table out of reach and tried to reason with him。 I have
always believed in talking to animals。 I maintain that they
gather something of our intention at least； even if they do not
understand our words； but the Dog evidently put me down for a
hypocrite and scorned my approaches。 At first he took his post
under the table and kept up a circular watch for a leg trying to
get down。 I felt sure I could have controlled him with my eye；
but I could not bring it to bear where I was； or rather where he
was； thus I was left a prisoner。 I am a very cool person； I
flatter myself； in fact； I represent a hardware firm； and； in
coolness； we are not excelled by any but perhaps the nosy
gentlemen that sell wearing…apparel。 I got out a cigar and smoked
tailor…style on the table； while my little tyrant below kept
watch for legs。 I got out the telegram and read it： 〃Remarkable
pup。 Be polite to him； it's safer。〃 I think it was my coolness
rather than my politeness that did it； for in half an hour the
growling ceased。 In an hour he no longer jumped at a newspaper
cautiously pushed over the edge to test his humor； possibly the
irritation of the cage was wearing off； and by the time I had lit
my third cigar； he waddled out to the fir