III
THEHOMEOFTHELYNX
AtfirstThor，beingtown—bred，wastimidaboutventuringintothewoodsbeyondthesoundofCorney’saxe;butdaybydayhewentfarther，guidinghimself，notbyunreliablemossontrees，butbysun，compass，andlandscapefeatures。Hispurposewastolearnaboutthewildanimalsratherthantokillthem;butthenaturalistisclosekintothesportsman，andthegunwashisconstantcompanion。Intheclearing，theonlyanimalofanysizewasafatWoodchuck;ithadaholeunderastumpsomehundredyardsfromtheshanty。Onsunnymorningsitusedtoliebaskingonthestump，buteternalvigilanceisthepriceofeverygoodthinginthewoods。TheWoodchuckwasalwaysalertandThortriedinvaintoshootoreventotraphim。
\"Hyar，\"saidCorneyonemorning，\"timewehadsomefreshmeat。\"
Hetookdownhisrifle，anold—fashionedbrass—mountedsmall—bore，andloadingwithcarethatshowedthetruerifleman，hesteadiedtheweaponagainstthedoor—jambandfired。TheWoodchuckfellbackwardandlaystill。Thorracedtotheplaceandreturnedintriumphwiththeanimal，shouting：\"Plumbthroughthehead——onehundredandtwentyyards。\"
Corneycontrolledthegratifiedsmilethatwrestledwiththecornersofhismouth，buthisbrighteyesshoneatriflebrighterforthemoment。
Itwasnomerekillingforkilling’ssake，fortheWoodchuckwasspreadingabeltofdestructioninthecroparoundhisden。ItsfleshsuppliedthefamilywithmorethanonegoodmealandCorneyshowedThorhowtousetheskin。Firstthepeltwaswrappedinhardwoodashesfortwenty—fourhours。Thisbroughtthehairoff。
Thentheskinwassoakedforthreedaysinsoftsoapandworkedbyhand，asitdried，tillitcameoutawhitestrongleather。
Thor’swanderingsextendedfartherinsearchofthethingswhichalwayscameassurpriseshowevermuchhewaslookingforthem。
Manydayswereblanksandotherswouldbecrowdedwithincidents，forunexpectednessisaboveallthepeculiarfeatureofhunting，anditslastingcharm。Onedayhehadgonefarbeyondtheridgeinanewdirectionandpassedthroughanopengladewherelaythebrokentrunkofahugebasswood。Thesizeimpresseditonhismemory。Heswungpastthegladetomakeforthelake，amiletothewest，andtwentyminuteslaterhestartedbackashiseyerestedonahugeblackanimalinthecrotchofahemlock，somethirtyfeetfromtheground。ABear！Atlast，thiswasthetestofnervehehadhalfexpectedallsummer;hadbeenwonderinghowthatmystery\"himself\"wouldactunderthisverytrial。Hestoodstill;hisrighthanddivedintohispocketand，bringingoutthreeorfourbuckshot，whichhecarriedforemergency，hedroppedthemontopofthebirdshotalreadyinthegun，thenrammedawadtoholdthemdown。
TheBearhadnotmovedandtheboycouldnotseeitshead，butnowhestudieditcarefully。Itwasnotsuchalargeone——no，itwasasmallone，yes，verysmall——acub。Acub！ThatmeantamotherBearathand，andThorlookedaboutwithsomefear，butseeingnosignsofanyexceptthelittleone，helevelledthegunandfired。
Thentohissurprisedowncrashedtheanimalquitedead;itwasnotaBear，butalargePorcupine。Asitlaythereheexamineditwithwonderandregret，for。hehadnowishtokillsuchaharmlesscreature。Onitsgrotesquefacehefoundtwoorthreelongscratcheswhichprovedthathehadnotbeenitsonlyenemy。
Asheturnedawayhenoticedsomebloodonhistrousers，thensawthathislefthandwasbleeding。Hehadwoundedhimselfquiteseverelyonthequillsoftheanimalwithoutknowingit。Hewassorrytoleavethespecimenthere，andLoo，whenshelearnedofit，saiditwasashamenottoskinitwhenshe\"neededafur—linedcapeforthewinter。\"
OnanotherdayThorhadgonewithoutagun，ashemeantonlytogathersomecuriousplantshehadseen。Theywereclosetotheclearing;heknewtheplacebyafallenelm。Ashecametoitheheardapeculiarsound。Thenontheloghiseyecaughttwomovingthings。Heliftedaboughandgotaclearview。TheyweretheheadandtailofanenormousLynx。Ithadseenhimandwasglaringandgrumbling;andunderitsfootonthelogwasawhitebirdthatasecondglanceshowedtobeoneoftheirownprecioushens。Howfierceandcruelthebrutelooked！HowThorhatedit！
andfairlygnashedhisteethwithdisgustthatnow，whenhisgreatestchancewascome，heforoncewaswithouthisgun。Hewasinnotalittlefear，too，andstoodwonderingwhattodo。TheLynxgrowledlouder;itsstumpytailtwitchedviciouslyforaminute，thenitpickedupitsvictim，andleapingfromthelogwaslosttoview。
Asitwasaveryrainysummer，thegroundwassofteverywhere，andtheyounghunterwasledtofollowtracksthatwouldhavedefiedanexpertindryertimes。Onedayhecameonpiglikefootprintsinthewoods。Hefollowedthemwithlittledifficulty，fortheywerenew，andaheavyraintwohoursbeforehadwashedoutallothertrails。Afterabouthalfamiletheyledhimtoanopenravine，andashereacheditsbrowhesawacrossitaflashofwhite;thenhiskeenyoungeyesmadeouttheformsofaDeerandaspottedFawngazingathimcuriously。Thoughontheirtrailhewasnotalittlestartled。Hegazedatthemopen—mouthed。Themotherturnedandraisedthedangerflag，herwhitetail，andboundedlightlyaway，tobefollowedbytheyoungster，clearinglowtrunkswithaneffortlessleap，orbendingdownwithcatlikesupplenesswhentheycametoalogupraisedsothattheymightpassbelow。
Heneveragaingotachancetoshootatthem，thoughmorethanoncehesawthesametwotracks，orbelievedtheywerethesame，asforsomecauseneveryetexplained，Deerwerescarcerinthatunbrokenforestthantheywereinlateryearswhenclearingsspreadaround。
Heneveragainsawthem;buthesawthemotheronce——hethoughtitwasthesame——shewassearchingthewoodswithhernose，tryingthegroundfortrails;shewasnervousandanxious，evidentlyseeking。ThorrememberedatrickthatCorneyhadtoldhim。Hegentlystooped，tookupabroadbladeofgrass，laiditbetweentheedgesofhisthumbs，thenblowingthroughthissimplesqueakerhemadeashort，shrillbleat，afairimitationofaFawn’scryforthemother，andtheDeer，thoughalongwayoff，cameboundingtowardhim。Hesnatchedhisgun，meaningtokillher，butthemovementcaughthereye。Shestopped。Hermanebristledalittle;shesniffedandlookedinquiringlyathim。Herbigsofteyestouchedhisheart，heldbackhishand;shetookacautiousstepnearer，gotafullwhiffofhermortalenemy，boundedbehindabigtreeandawaybeforehismercifulimpulsewasgone。\"Poorthing，\"saidThor，\"Ibelieveshehaslostherlittleone。\"
YetoncemoretheBoymetaLynxinthewoods。HalfanhourafterseeingthelonelyDeerhecrossedthelongridgethatlaysomemilesnorthoftheshanty。Hehadpassedthegladewherethegreatbasswoodlaywhenacreaturelikeabigbob—tailedKittenappearedandlookedinnocentlyathim。Hisgunwentup，asusual，buttheKittenmerelycockeditsheadononesideandfearlesslysurveyedhim。Thenasecondonethathehadnotnoticedbeforebegantoplaywiththefirst，pawingatitstailandinvitingitsbrothertotussle。
Thor’sfirstthoughttoshootwasstayedashewatchedtheirgambols，buttheremembranceofhisfeudwiththeirracecameback。Hehadalmostraisedthegunwhenafiercerumblecloseathandgavehimastart，andthere，nottenfeetfromhim，stoodtheoldone，lookingbigandfierceasaTigress。Itwassurelyfollytoshootattheyoungonesnow。Theboynervouslydroppedsomebuckshotonthechargewhilethesnarlinggrowlroseandfell，butbeforehewasreadytoshootathertheoldonehadpickedupsomethingthatwasbyherfeet;theboygotaglimpseofrichbrownwithwhitespots——thelimpformofanewlykilledFawn。Thenshepassedoutofsight。TheKittensfollowed，andhesawhernomoreuntilthetimewhen，lifeagainstlife，theywereweighedinthebalancetogether。
IV
THETERROROFTHEWOODS
Sixweekshadpassedindailyroutinewhenonedaytheyounggiantseemedunusuallyquietashewentabout。Hishandsomefacewasverysoberandhesangnotatallthatmorning。
HeandThorsleptonahay—bunkinonecornerofthemainroom，andthatnighttheBoyawakenedmorethanoncetohearhiscompaniongroaningandtossinginhissleep。Corneyaroseasusualinthemorningandfedthehorses，butlaydownagainwhilethesistersgotbreakfast。Herousedhimselfbyaneffortandwentbacktowork，butcamehomeearly。Hewastremblingfromheadtofoot。Itwashotsummerweather，buthecouldnotbekeptwarm。AfterseveralhoursareactionsetinandCorneywasinahighfever。Thefamilyknewwellnowthathehadthedreadedchillsandfeverofthebackwoods。Margatwentoutandgatheredalapfulofpipsissewatomaketea，ofwhichCorneywasencouragedtodrinkcopiously。
Butinspiteofalltheirherbsandnursingtheyoungmangotworse。Attheendoftendayshewasgreatlyreducedinfleshandincapableofwork，soononeofthe\"welldays\"thatareusualinthecourseofthediseasehesaid：
\"Say，gurruls，Ican’tstanditnolonger。GuessIbettergohome。I’mwellenoughtodriveto—day，forawhileanyway;ifI’mtookdownI’lllayinthewagon，andthehorseswillfetchmehome。Mother’llhavemeallrightinaweekorso。IfyourunoutofgrubbeforeIcomebacktakethecanoetoEllerton’s。\"
Sothegirlsharnessedthehorses;thewagonwaspartlyfilledwithhay，andCorney，weakandwhite—faced，droveawayonthelongroughroad，andleftthemfeelingmuchasthoughtheywereonadesertislandandtheironlyboathadbeentakenfromthem。
Halfaweekhadscarcelygonebeforeallthreeofthem，Margat，Loo，andThor，weretakendownwithayetmorevirulentformofchillsandfever。
Corneyhadhadeveryothera\"wellday，\"butwiththesethreetherewereno\"welldays\"andthehousebecameanabodeofmisery。
Sevendayspassed，andnowMargatcouldnotleaveherbedandLoowasbarelyabletowalkaroundthehouse。Shewasabravegirlwithafundofdrollerywhichdidmuchtowardkeepingupalltheirspirits，buthermerriestjokesfellghastlyfromherwan，pinchedface。Thor，thoughweakandill，wasthestrongestanddidfortheothers，cookingandservingeachdayasimplemeal，fortheycouldeatverylittle，fortunately，perhaps，astherewasverylittle，andCorneycouldnotreturnforanotherweek。
SoonThorwastheonlyoneabletorise，andonemorningwhenhedraggedhimselftocutthelittleusualsliceoftheirtreasuredbaconhefound，tohishorror，thatthewholepiecewasgone。Ithadbeenstolen，doubtlessbysomewildanimal，fromthelittleboxontheshadysideofthehouse，whereitwaskeptsafefromflies。Nowtheyweredowntoflourandtea。Hewasindespair，whenhiseyelightedontheChickensaboutthestable;butwhat’stheuse？InhisfeeblestatehemightaswelltrytocatchaDeeroraHawk。SuddenlyherememberedhisgunandverysoonwaspreparingafatHenforthepot。Heboileditwholeastheeasiestwaytocookit，andthebrothwasthefirstreallytemptingfoodtheyhadhadforsometime。
TheykeptaliveforthreewretcheddaysonthatChicken，andwhenitwasfinishedThoragaintookdownhisgun——itseemedamuchheaviergunnow。Hecrawledtothebarn，buthewassoweakandshakythathemissedseveraltimesbeforehebroughtdownafowl。
Corneyhadtakentherifleawaywithhimandthreechargesofgunammunitionwereallthatnowremained。
ThorwassurprisedtoseehowfewHenstherewerenow，onlythreeorfour。Thereusedtobeoveradozen。Threedayslaterhemadeanotherraid。HesawbutoneHenandheuseduphislastammunitiontogetthat。
Hisdailyroutinenowwasamonotonyofhorror。Inthemorning，whichwashis\"welltime，\"hepreparedalittlefoodforthehouseholdandgotreadyforthenightofragingfeverbyputtingabucketofwateronablockattheheadofeachbunk。Aboutoneo’clock，withfearfulregularity，thechillswouldcomeon，withtremblingfromheadtofootandchatteringteeth，andcold，cold，withinandwithout。Nothingseemedtogiveanywarmth——fireseemedtohavelostitspower。Therewasnothingtodobuttolieandshakeandsufferalltheslowtortureoffreezingtodeathandshakingtopieces。Forsixhoursitwouldkeepup，andtothetorture，nausealentitshorridaidthroughout;thenaboutsevenoreighto’clockintheeveningachangewouldcome;aburningfeversetin;noicecouldhaveseemedcooltohimthen;
water——water——wasallhecraved，anddrankanddrankuntilthreeorfourinthemorning，whenthefeverwouldabate，andasleepoftotalexhaustionfollowed。
\"IfyourunoutoffoodtakethecanoetoEllerton’s，\"wasthebrother’slastword。Whowastotakethecanoe？
TherewasbuthalfaChickennowbetweenthemandstarvation，andnosignofCorney。
Forthreeinterminableweeksthedeadlyprogramdraggedalong。Itwentonthesameyetworse，asthesufferersgrewweaker——afewdaysmoreandtheBoyalsowouldbeunabletoleavehiscouch。
Thenwhat？
Despairwasonthehouseandthesilentcryofeachwas，\"Oh，God！willCorneynevercome？\"
V
THEHOMEOFTHEBOY
OnthedayofthatlastChicken，Thorwasallmorningcarryingwaterenoughforthecomingthreefevers。Thechillattackedhimsoonerthanitwasdueandhisfeverwasworsethaneverbefore。
Hedrankdeeplyandoftenfromthebucketathishead。Hehadfilledit，anditwasnearlyemptiedwhenabouttwointhemorningthefeverlefthimandhefellasleep。
Inthegraydawnhewasawakenedbyacurioussoundnotfaraway——asplashingofwater。Heturnedhisheadtoseetwoglaringeyeswithinafootofhisface——agreatBeastlappingthewaterinthebucketbyhisbed。
Thorgazedinhorrorforamoment，thenclosedhiseyes，surethathewasdreaming，certainthatthiswasanightmareofIndiawithaTigerbyhiscouch;butthelappingcontinued。Helookedup;yes，itstillwasthere。Hetriedtofindhisvoicebututteredonlyagurgle。Thegreatfurryheadquivered，asniffcamefrombelowtheshiningeyeballs，andthecreature，whateveritwas，droppedtoitsfrontfeetandwentacrossthehutunderthetable。Thorwasfullyawakenow;heroseslowlyonhiselbowandfeeblyshouted\"Sssh—hi，\"atwhichtheshiningeyesreappearedunderthetableandthegrayformcameforth。Calmlyitwalkedacrossthegroundandglidedunderthelowestlogataplacewhereanoldpotatopitleftanopeninganddisappeared。
Whatwasit？Thesickboyhardlyknew——somesavageBeastofprey，undoubtedly。Hewastotallyunnerved。Heshookwithfearandasenseofhelplessness，andthenightpassedinfitfulsleepandsuddenstartsawaketosearchthegloomagainforthosefearfuleyesandthegreatgrayglidingform。Inthemorninghedidnotknowwhetheritwerenotalladelirium，yethemadeafeebleefforttoclosetheoldcellarholewithsomefirewood。
Thethreehadlittleappetite，buteventhattheyrestrainedsincenowtheyweredowntopartofaChicken，andCorney，evidentlyhesupposedtheyhadbeentoEllerton’sandgotallthefoodtheyneeded。
Againthatnight，whenthefeverlefthimweakanddozing，Thorwasawakenedbyanoiseintheroom，asoundofcrunchingbones。
Helookedaroundtoseedimlyoutlinedagainstthelittlewindow，theformofalargeanimalonthetable。Thorshouted;hetriedtohurlhisbootattheintruder。Itleapedlightlytothegroundandpassedoutofthehole，againwideopen。
Itwasnodreamthistime，heknew，andthewomenknewit，too;
notonlyhadtheyheardthecreature，buttheChicken，thelastoftheirfood，waswhollygone。
PoorThorbarelylefthiscouchthatday。Itneededallthequerulouscomplaintsofthesickwomentodrivehimforth。Downbythespringhefoundafewberriesanddividedthemwiththeothers。Hemadehisusualpreparationsforthechillsandthethirst，butheaddedthis——bythesideofhiscouchheputanoldfish—spear——theonlyweaponhecouldfind，nowthegunwasuseless——apine—rootcandleandsomematches。HeknewtheBeastwascomingbackagain——wascominghungry。Itwouldfindnofood;
whatmorenatural，hethought，thantakethelivingpreylyingtheresohelpless？AndavisioncameofthelimpbrownformofthelittleFawn，borneoffinthosesamecrueljaws。
Onceagainhebarricadedtheholewithfirewood，andthenightpassedasusual，butwithoutanyfiercevisitor。Theirfoodthatdaywasflourandwater，andtocookitThorwasforcedtousesomeofhisbarricade。Looattemptedsomefeeblejoke，guessedshewaslightenoughtoflynowandtriedtorise，butshegotnofartherthantheedgeofthebunk。Thesamepreparationsweremade，andthenightworeon，butearlyinthemorning，Thorwasagainawakenedrudelybythesoundoflappingwaterbyhisbed，andthere，asbefore，weretheglowingeyeballs，thegreathead，thegrayformrelievedbythedimlightfromthedawningwindow。
Thorputallhisstrengthintowhatwasmeantforaboldshout，butitwasmerelyafeeblescreech。Heroseslowlyandcalledout：\"Loo，Margat！TheLynx——here’stheLynxagain！\"
\"MayGodhelpye，forwecan’t，\"wastheanswer。
\"Sssh—hi！\"ThortriedagaintodrivetheBeastaway。Itleapedontothetablebythewindowandstoodupgrowlingundertheuselessgun。Thorthoughtitwasgoingtoleapthroughtheglassasitfacedthewindowamoment;butitturnedandglaredtowardtheBoy，forhecouldseebotheyesshining。Heroseslowlytothesideofhisbunkandheprayedforhelp，forhefeltitwaskillorbekilled。Hestruckamatchandlightedhispine—rootcandle，heldthatinhislefthandandinhisrighttooktheoldfish—spear，meaningtofight，buthewassoweakhehadtousethefish—spearasacrutch。ThegreatBeaststoodonthetablestill，butwascrouchingalittleasthoughforaspring。Itseyesglowedredinthetorchlight。Itsshorttailwasswitchingfromsidetosideanditsgrowlingtookahigherpitch。Thor’skneesweresmitingtogether，buthelevelledthespearandmadeafeeblelungetowardthebrute。Itsprangatthesamemoment，notathim，ashefirstthought——thetorchandtheboy’sboldfronthadhadeffect——itwentoverhisheadtodroponthegroundbeyondandatoncetoslinkunderthebunk。
Thiswasonlyatemporaryrepulse。Thorsetthetorchonaledgeofthelogs，thentookthespearinbothhands。Hewasfightingforhislife，andheknewit。Heheardthevoicesofthewomenfeeblypraying。HesawonlytheglowingeyesunderthebedandheardthegrowlinginhigherpitchastheBeastwasnearingaction。Hesteadiedhimselfbyagreateffortandplungedthespearwithalltheforcehecouldgiveit。
Itstrucksomethingsofterthanthelogs：ahideoussnarlcameforth。Theboythrewallhisweightontheweapon;theBeastwasstrugglingtogetathim;hefeltitsteethandclawsgratingonthehandle，andinspiteofhimselfitwascomingon;itspowerfularmsandclawswerereachingforhimnow;hecouldnotholdoutlong。Heputonallhisforce，justalittlemoreitwasthanbefore;theBeastlurched，therewasagrowling，acrack，andasuddenyielding;therottenoldspear—headhadbrokenoff，theBeastsprangout——athim——pasthim——nevertouchedhim，butacrossthroughtheholeandaway，tobeseennomore。
Thorfellonthebedandlostallconsciousness。
Helaythereheknewnothowlong，butwasawakenedinbroaddaylightbyaloud，cheeryvoice：
\"Hello！Hello！——areyealldead？Loo！Thor！Margat！\"
Hehadnostrengthtoanswer，buttherewasatramplingofhorsesoutside，aheavystep，thedoorwasforcedopen，andinstrodeCorney，handsomeandheartyasever。Butwhataflashofhorrorandpaincameoverhisfaceonenteringthesilentshanty！
\"Dead？\"hegasped。\"Who’sdead——whereareyou？Thor？\"Then，\"Whoisit？Loo？Margat？\"
\"Corney——Corney，\"camefeeblyfromthebunk。\"They’reinthere。
They’reawfulsick。Wehavenothingtoeat。\"
\"Oh，whatafoolIbe！\"saidCorneyagainandagain。\"Imadesureye’dgotoEllerton’sandgetallyewanted。\"
\"Wehadnochance，Corney;wewereallthreebroughtdownatonce，rightafteryouleft。ThentheLynxcameandcleareduptheHens，andallinthehouse，too。\"
\"Well，yegotevenwithher，\"andCorneypointedtothetrailofbloodacrossthemudfloorandoutunderthelogs。
Goodfood，nursing，andmedicinerestoredthemall。
Amonthortwolater，whenthewomenwantedanewleaching—barrel，Thorsaid：\"Iknowwherethereisahollowbasswoodasbigasahogshead。\"
HeandCorneywenttotheplace，andwhentheycutoffwhattheyneeded，theyfoundinthefarendofitthedried—upbodiesoftwolittleLynxeswiththatofthemother，andinthesideoftheoldonewastheheadofafish—spearbrokenfromthehandle。
LITTLEWARHORSE
TheHistoryofaJack—rabbitTheLittleWarhorseknewpracticallyalltheDogsintown。First，therewasaverylargebrownDogthathadpursuedhimmanytimes，aDogthathealwaysgotridofbyslippingthroughaholeinaboardfence。Second，therewasasmallactiveDogthatcouldfollowthroughthathole，andhimhebaffledbyleapingatwenty—footirrigationditchthathadsteepsidesandaswiftcurrent。TheDogcouldnotmakethisleap。Itwas\"suremedicine\"
forthatfoe，andtheboysstillcalltheplace\"OldJacky’sJump。\"ButtherewasaGreyhoundthatcouldleapbetterthantheJack，andwhenhecouldnotfollowthroughafence，hejumpedoverit。HetriedtheWarhorse’smettlemorethanonce，andJackyonlysavedhimselfbyhisquickdodging，tilltheygottoanOsagehedge，andheretheGreyhoundhadtogiveitup。Besidesthese，therewasintownarabbleofbigandlittleDogsthatweretroublesome，buteasilyleftbehindintheopen。
InthecountrytherewasaDogateachfarm—house，butonlyonethattheWarhorsereallyfeared;thatwasalong—legged，fierce，blackDog，abrutesoswiftandpertinaciousthathehadseveraltimesforcedtheWarhorsealmosttothelastextremity。
ForthetownCatshecaredlittle;onlyonceortwicehadhebeenthreatenedbythem。AhugeTom—catflushedwithmanyvictoriescamecrawlinguptowherehefedonemoonlightnight。JackWarhorsesawtheblackcreaturewiththeglowingeyes，andamomentbeforethefinalrush，hefacedit，raiseduponhishaunches，——hishindlegs，——atfulllengthonhistoes，——withhisbroadearstoweringupyetsixincheshigher;thenlettingoutaloudchurrr—churrr，hisbestattemptataroar，hesprangfivefeetforwardandlandedontheCat’shead，drivinginhissharphindnails，andtheoldTomfledinterrorfromtheweirdtwo—leggedgiant。Thistrickhehadtriedseveraltimeswithsuccess，buttwiceitturnedoutasadfailure：once，whentheCatprovedtobeamotherwhoseKittenswerenear;thenJackWarhorsehadtofleeforhislife;andtheothertimewaswhenhemadethemistakeoflandinghardonaSkunk。
ButtheGreyhoundwasthedangerousenemy，andinhimtheWarhorsemighthavefoundhisfate，butforacuriousadventurewithahappyendingforJack。
Hefedbynight;therewerefewerenemiesaboutthen，anditwaseasiertohide;butonedayatdawninwinterhehadlingeredlongatanalfalfastackandwascrossingtheopensnowtowardhisfavoriteform，when，asill—luckwouldhaveit，hemettheGreyhoundprowlingoutsidethetown。Withopensnowandgrowingdaylighttherewasnochancetohide，nothingbutarunintheopenwithsoftsnowthathinderedtheJackmorethanitdidtheHound。
Offtheywent——superbrunnersinfinefettle。howtheyskimmedacrossthesnow，raisingitinlittlepuff—puff—puffs，eachtimetheirnimblefeetwentdown。Thiswayandthat，swervinganddodging，wentthechase。EverythingfavoredtheDog，——hisemptystomach，thecoldweather，thesoftsnow，——whiletheRabbitwashandicappedbyhisheavymealofalfalfa。Buthisfeetwentpuff——puffsofastthatadozenofthelittlesnow—jetswereinviewatonce。Thechasecontinuedintheopen;nofriendlyhedgewasnear，andeveryattempttoreachafencewascleverlystoppedbytheHound。Jack’searswerelosingtheirboldup—cock，asuresignoffailingheartorwind，whenallatoncetheseflagswentstifflyup，asundersuddenrenewalofstrength。TheWarhorseputforthallhispower，nottoreachthehedgetothenorth，butovertheopenprairieeastward。TheGreyhoundfollowed，andwithinfiftyyardstheJackdodgedtofoilhisfiercepursuer;butonthenexttackhewasonhiseasterncourseagain，andsotackinganddodging，hekeptthelinedirectforthenextfarm—house，wherewasaveryhighboardfencewithahen—hole，andwherealsotheredwelthisotherhatedenemy，thebigblackDog。AnouterhedgedelayedtheGreyhoundforamomentandgaveJacktimetodashthroughthehen—holeintotheyard，wherehehidtooneside。TheGreyhoundrushedaroundtothelowgate，leapedoverthatamongtheHens，andastheyfledcacklingandfluttering，someLambsbleatedloudly。Theirnaturalguardian，thebigblackDog，rantotherescue，andWarhorseslippedoutagainbytheholeatwhichhehadentered。HorriblesoundsofDoghateandfurywereheardbehindhiminthehen—yard，andsoontheshoutsofmenwereadded。Howitendedhedidnotknoworseektolearn，butitwasremarkablethatheneverafterwardwastroubledbytheswiftGreyhoundthatformerlylivedinNewchusen。
II
Hardtimesandeasytimeshadlongfollowedinturnandbeentakenasmattersofcourse;butrecentyearsintheStateofKaskadohadbroughttotheJack—rabbitsasuccessionofremarkableupsanddowns。IntheolddaystheyhadtheirendlessfightwithBirdsandBeastsofPrey，withcoldandheat，withpestilenceandwithflieswhosestingbredaloathsomedisease，andyethadheldtheirown。Butthesettlingofthecountrybyfarmersmademanychanges。
DogsandgunsarrivinginnumbersreducedtheranksofCoyotes，Foxes，Wolves，Badgers，andHawksthatpreyedontheJack，sothatinafewyearstheRabbitsweremultipliedingreatswarms;
butnowPestilencebrokeoutandsweptthemaway。Onlythestrongest——thedouble—seasoned——remained。ForawhileaJack—rabbitwasararity;butduringthistimeanotherchangecamein。TheOsage—orangehedgesplantedeverywhereaffordedanewrefuge，andnowthesafetyofaJack—rabbitwaslessoftenhisspeedthanhiswits，andthewiseones，whenpursuedbyaDogorCoyote，wouldrushtothenearesthedgethroughasmallholeandescapewhiletheenemysoughtforalargeronebywhichtofollow。TheCoyotesrosetothisanddevelopedthetrickoftherelaychase。InthisoneCoyotetakesonefield，anotherthenext，andiftheRabbitattemptsthe\"hedge—ruse\"theyworkfromeachsideandusuallywintheirprey。TheRabbitremedyforthis，iskeeneyestoseethesecondCoyote，avoidanceofthatfield，thengoodlegstodistancethefirstenemy。
ThustheJack—rabbits，afterbeingsuccessivelynumerous，scarce，inmyriads，andrare，werenowagainontheincrease，andthosewhichsurvived，selectedbyahundredhardtrials，wereenabledtoflourishwheretheirancestorscouldnothaveoutlivedasingleseason。
Theirfavoritegroundswere，notthebroadopenstretchesofthebigranches，butthecomplicated，much—fencedfieldsofthefarms，wheretheseweresosmallandcloseastobelikeabigstragglingvillage。
OneofthesevegetablevillageshadsprunguparoundtherailwaystationofNewchusen。ThecountryamileawaywaswellsuppliedwithJack—rabbitsofthenewandselectedstock。AmongthemwasalittleladyRabbitcalled\"Bright—eyes，\"fromherleadingcharacteristicasshesatgrayinthegraybrush。
Shewasagoodrunner，butwasespeciallysuccessfulwiththefence—playthatbaffledtheCoyotes。Shemadehernestoutinanopenpasture，anuntouchedtractoftheancientprairie。Hereherbroodwerebornandraised。Onelikeherselfwasbright—eyed，incoatofsilver—gray，andpartlygiftedwithherreadywits，butintheother，thereappearedararecombinationofhismother’sgiftswiththebestthatwasinthebeststrainofthenewJack—rabbitsoftheplains。
Thiswastheonewhoseadventureswehavebeenfollowing，theonethatlaterontheturfwonthenameofLittleWarhorseandthatafterwardachievedaworld—widefame。
Ancienttricksofhiskindherevivedandputtonewuses，andancientenemieshelearnedtofightwithnew—foundtricks。
WhenamerebabyhediscoveredaplanthatwasworthyofthewisestRabbitinKaskado。HewaspursuedbyahorriblelittleYellowDog，andhehadtriedinvaintogetridofhimbydodgingamongthefieldsandfarms。ThisisgoodplayagainstaCoyote，becausethefarmersandtheDogswilloftenhelptheJack，withoutknowingit，byattackingtheCoyote。Butnowtheplandidnotworkatall，forthelittleDogmanagedtokeepafterhimthroughonefenceafteranother，andJackWarhorse，notyetfull—grown，muchlessseasoned，wasbeginningtofeelthestrain。
Hisearswerenolongerupstraight，butanglingbackandattimesdroopingtoalevel，ashedartedthroughaverylittleholeinanOsagehedge，onlytofindthathisnimbleenemyhaddonethesamewithoutlossoftime。Inthemiddleofthefieldwasasmallherdofcattleandwiththemacalf。
Thereisinwildanimalsacuriousimpulsetotrustanystrangerwhenindesperatestraits。Thefoebehindtheyknowmeansdeath。
Thereisjustachance，andtheonlyoneleft，thatthestrangermayprovefriendly;anditwasthislastdesperatechancethatdrewJackWarhorsetotheCows。
ItisquitesurethattheCowswouldhavestoodbyinstolidindifferencesofarastheRabbitwasconcerned，buttheyhaveadeep—rootedhatredofadog，andwhentheysawtheYellowCurcomingboundingtowardthem，theirtailsandnoseswentup;theysniffedangrily，thenclosedupranks，andledbytheCowthatownedtheCalf，theychargedattheDog，whileJacktookrefugeunderalowthorn—bush。TheDogswervedasidetoattacktheCalf，atleasttheoldCowthoughthedid，andshefollowedhimsofiercelythathebarelyescapedfromthatfieldwithhislife。
Itwasagoodoldplan——onethatdoubtlesscamefromthedayswhenBuffaloandCoyoteplayedthepartsofCowandDog。Jackneverforgotit，andmorethanonceitsavedhislife。
Incoloraswellasinpowerhewasararity。
Animalsarecoloredinoneorotheroftwogeneralplans：onethatmatchesthemwiththeirsurroundingsandhelpsthemtohide——thisiscalled\"protective\";theotherthatmakesthemveryvisibleforseveralpurposes——thisiscalled\"directive。\"
Jack—rabbitsarepeculiarinbeingpaintedbothways。Astheysquatintheirforminthegraybrushorclods，theyaresoftgrayontheirears，head，back，andsides;theymatchthegroundandcannotbeseenuntilcloseathand——theyareprotectivelycolored。ButthemomentitiscleartotheJackthattheapproachingfoewillfindhim，hejumpsupanddashesaway。Hethrowsoffalldisguisenow，thegrayseemstodisappear;hemakesalightningchange，andhisearsshowsnowywhitewithblacktips，thelegsarewhite，histailisablackspotinablazeofwhite。Heisablack—and—whiteRabbitnow。Hiscoloringisalldirective。Howisitdone？Verysimply。Thefrontsideoftheearisgray，theback，blackandwhite。Theblacktailwithitswhitehalo，andthelegs，aretuckedbelow。Heissittingonthem。Thegraymantleispulleddownandenlargedashesits，butwhenhejumpsupitshrinkssomewhat，allhisblack—and—whitemarksarenowshown，andjustashiscolorsformerlywhispered，\"Iamaclod，\"theynowshoutaloud，\"IamaJack—rabbit。\"
Whyshouldhedothis？Whyshouldatimidcreaturerunningforhislifethusproclaimtoalltheworldhisnameinsteadoftryingtohide？Theremustbesomegoodreason。Itmustpay，ortheRabbitwouldneverhavedoneit。
Theansweris，ifthecreaturethatscaredhimupwasoneofhisownkind——i。e。，thiswasafalsealarm——thenatonce，byshowinghisnationalcolors，themistakeismaderight。Ontheotherhand，ifitbeaCoyote，Fox，orDog，theyseeatonce，thisisaJack—rabbit，andknowthatitwouldbewasteoftimeforthemtopursuehim。Theysayineffect，\"ThisisaJack—rabbit，andI
cannotcatchaJackinopenrace。\"Theygiveitup，andthat，ofcourse，savestheJackagreatdealofunnecessaryrunningandworry。Theblack—and—whitespotsarethenationaluniformandflagoftheJacks。Inpoorspecimenstheyareapttobedull，butinthefinestspecimenstheyarenotonlylarger，butbrighterthanusual，andtheLittleWarhorse，graywhenhesatinhisform，blazedlikecharcoalandsnow，whenheflunghisdefiancetotheFoxandbuffCoyote，anddancedwithlittleeffortbeforethem，firstablack—and—whiteJack，thenalittlewhitespot，andlastaspeckofthistledown，beforethedistanceswallowedhim。
Manyofthefarmers’Dogshadlearnedthelesson：\"AgrayishRabbityoumaycatch，butaveryblack—and—whiteoneishopeless。\"Theymight，indeed，followforatime，butthatwasmerelyforthefunofachivvy，andhisgrowingpoweroftenledWarhorsetoseekthechaseforthesakeofalittleexcitement，andtotakehazardsthatotherslessgiftedweremostcarefultoavoid。
Jack，likeallotherwildanimals，hadacertainrangeorcountrywhichwashometohim，andoutsideofthisherarelystrayed。Itwasaboutthreemilesacross，extendingeasterlyfromthecentreofthevillage。Scatteredthroughthishehadanumberof\"forms，\"or\"beds\"astheyarelocallycalled。Theseweremerehollowssituatedunderashelteringbushorbunchofgrass，withoutliningexceptingtheaccidentalgrassandin—blownleaves。Butcomfortwasnotforgotten。Someofthemwereforhotweather;theyfacedthenorth，werescarcelysunk，werelittlemorethanshadyplaces。Someforthecoldweatherweredeephollowswithsouthernexposure，andothersforthewetwerewellroofedwithherbageandfacedthewest。Inoneorotherofthesehespenttheday，andatnighthewentforthtofeedwithhiskind，sportingandrompingonthemoonlightnightslikealotofpuppyDogs，butcarefultobegonebysunrise，andsafelytuckedinabedthatwassuitedtotheweather。
ThesafestgroundfortheJackswasamongthefarms，wherenotonlyOsagehedges，butalsothenewlyarrivedbarb—wire，madehurdlesandhazardsinthepathofpossibleenemies。Butthefinestoftheforageisnearertothevillageamongthetruck—farms——thefinestofforageandthefiercestofdangers。
Someofthedangersoftheplainswerelacking，butthegreaterperilsofmen，guns，Dogs，andimpassablefencesaremuchincreased。YetthosewhoknewWarhorsebestwerenotatallsurprisedtofindthathehadmadeaforminthemiddleofamarket—gardener’smelon—patch。Ascoreofdangersbesethimhere，buttherewasalsoascoreofunusualdelightsandascoreofholesinthefencefortimeswhenhehadtofly，withatleasttwoscoreofexpedientstohelphimafterward。
III
NewchusenwasatypicalWesterntown。Everywhereinit，weretobeseenstrenuouseffortsatuglification，crownedwithunmeasuredsuccess。Thestreetswerestraightlevellaneswithoutcurvesorbeauty—spots。Thehouseswerecheapandmeanstructuresofflimsyboardsandtarpaper，andnotevenhonestintheirugliness，foreachofthemwaspretendingtobesomethingbetterthanitself。Onehadafalsefronttomakeitlookliketwostories，anotherwasofimitationbrick，athirdpretendedtobeamarbletemple。
Butallagreedinbeingtheugliestthingseverusedashumandwellings，andineachcouldbereadtheowner’ssecretthought——tostanditforayearorso，thenmoveoutsomewhereelse。Theonlybeautiesoftheplace，andthoseunintentional，werethelonglinesofhand—plantedshade—trees，uglifiedasfaraspossiblewithwhitewashedtrunksandcroppyheads，butstilllovable，growing，livingthings。
Theonlybuildingintownwithatouchofpicturesquenesswasthegrainelevator。ItwasnotposingasaGreektempleoraSwisschalet，butsimplyastrong，rough，honest，grainelevator。Attheendofeachstreetwasavistaoftheprairie，withitsfarm—houses，windmillpumps，andlonglinesofOsage—orangehedges。Hereatleastwassomethingofinterest——thegray—greenhedges，thick，sturdy，andhigh，weredottedwiththeirgoldenmock—oranges，uselessfruit，butmorewelcomeherethanraininadesert;fortheseballswerethingsofbeauty，andswungontheirlongtoughboughstheyformedwiththesoftgreenleavesacolor—chordthatpleasedthewearyeye。
Suchatownisaplacetogetoutof，assoonaspossible，sothoughtthetravellerwhofoundhimselflaidoverherefortwodaysinlatewinter。Heaskedafterthesightsoftheplace。A
whiteMuskratstuffedinacase\"downtothesaloon\";oldBaccyBullin，whohadbeenscalpedbytheIndiansfortyyearsago;andapipeoncesmokedbyKitCarson，provedunattractive，soheturnedtowardtheprairie，stillwhitewithsnow。
AmarkamongthenumerousDogtrackscaughthiseye：itwasthetrackofalargeJack—rabbit。Heaskedapasser—byiftherewereanyRabbitsintown。
\"No，Ireckonnot。Ineverseennone，\"wastheanswer。A
mill—handgavethesamereply，butasmallboywithabundleofnewspaperssaid：\"Youbetthereis;there’slotsofthemoutthereontheprairie，andtheycomeintowna—plenty。Why，there’sabig，bigfellerlivesrightroundSiKalb’smelon—patch——oh，anawfulbigfeller，andjustasblackandaswhiteascheckers！\"andthushesentthestrangereastwardonhiswalk。
The\"big，big，awfulbigone\"wastheLittleWarhorsehimself。Hedidn’tliveinKalb’smelon—patch;hewasthereonlyatoddtimes。Hewasnottherenow;hewasinhiswest—frontingformorbed，becausearaweastwindwassettingin。ItwasdueeastofMadisonAvenue，andasthestrangerploddedthatwaytheRabbitwatchedhim。AslongasthemankepttheroadtheJackwasquiet，buttheroadturnedshortlytothenorth，andthemanbychanceleftitandcamestraighton。ThentheJacksawtroubleahead。
Themomentthemanleftthebeatentrack，heboundedfromhisform，andwheeling，hesailedacrosstheprairiedueeast。
AJack—rabbitrunningfromitsenemyordinarilycoverseightorninefeetatabound，andonceinfiveorsixbounds，itmakesanobservationhop，leapingnotalong，buthighintheair，soastogetaboveallherbageandbushesandtakeinthesituation。A
sillyyoungJackwillmakeanobservationhopasoftenasoneinfour，andsowasteagreatdealoftime。AcleverJackwillmakeonehopineightornine，doforobservation。ButJackWarhorseashesped，gotalltheinformationheneeded，inonehopoutofadozen，whiletentofourteenfeetwerecoveredbyeachofhisflyingbounds。Yetanotherpersonalpeculiarityshowedinthetrailheleft。WhenaCottontailoraWood—hareruns，histailiscurleduptightonhisback，anddoesnottouchthesnow。WhenaJackruns，histailhangsdownwardorbackward，withthetipcurvedorstraight，accordingtotheindividual;insome，itpointsstraightdown，andso，oftenleavesalittlestrokebehindthefoot—marks。TheWarhorse’stailofshiningblack，wasofunusuallength，andateverybound，itleftinthesnow，alongstroke，solongthatthatalonewasalmostenoughtotellwhichRabbithadmadethetrack。
NowsomeRabbitsseeingonlyamanwithoutanyDogwouldhavefeltlittlefear，butWarhorse，rememberingsomeformerstingingexperienceswithafar—killer，fledwhenthefoewasseventy—fiveyardsaway，andskimminglow，heransoutheasttoafencethatraneasterly。Behindthishewentlikealow—flyingHawk，tillamileawayhereachedanotherofhisbeds;andhere，afteranobservationtakenashestoodonhisheels，hesettledagaintorest。
Butnotforlong。Intwentyminuteshisgreatmegaphoneears，soclosetotheground，caughtaregularsound—crunch，crunch，crunch——thetrampofahumanfoot，andhestarteduptoseethemanwiththeshiningstickinhishand，nowdrawingnear。
Warhorseboundedoutandawayforthefence。Neveroncedidherisetoa\"spy—hop\"tillthewireandrailswerebetweenhimandhisfoe，anunnecessaryprecautionasitchanced，forthemanwaswatchingthetrailandsawnothingoftheRabbit。
Jackskimmedalong，keepinglowandlookingoutforotherenemies。Heknewnowthatthemanwasonhistrack，andtheoldinstinctbornofancestraltroublewithWeaselswasdoubtlesswhatpromptedhimtodothedoubletrail。Heraninalong，straightcoursetoadistantfence，followeditsfarsideforfiftyyards，thendoublingbackheretracedhistrailandranoffinanewdirectiontillhereachedanotherofhisdensorforms。
Hehadbeenoutallnightandwasveryreadytorest，nowthatthesunwasablazeonthesnow;buthehadhardlygottheplacealittlewarmedwhenthe\"tramp，tramp，tramp\"announcedtheenemy，andhehurriedaway。
Afterahalf—a—milerunhestoppedonaslightriseandmarkedthemanstillfollowing，sohemadeaseriesofwonderfulquirksinhistrail，asuccessionofblindzigzagsthatwouldhavepuzzledmosttrailers;thenrunningahundredyardspastafavoriteform，hereturnedtoitfromtheotherside，andsettledtorest，surethatnowtheenemywouldbefinallythrownoffthescent。
Itwasslowerthanbefore，butstillitcame——\"tramp，tramp，tramp。\"
Jackawoke，butsatstill。Themantrampedbyonthetrailonehundredyardsinfrontofhim，andashewenton，Jacksprangoutunseen，realizingthatthiswasanunusualoccasionneedingaspecialeffort。TheyhadgoneinavastcirclearoundthehomerangeoftheWarhorseandnowwerelessthanamilefromthefarm—houseoftheblackDog。Therewasthatwonderfulboardfencewiththehappilyplannedhen—hole。Itwasaplaceofgoodmemory——heremorethanoncehehadwon，hereespeciallyhehadbaffledtheGreyhound。
Thesedoubtlesswerethemotivethoughtsratherthananyplanofplayingoneenemyagainstanother，andWarhorseboundedopenlyacrossthesnowtothefenceofthebigblackDog。
Thehen—holewasshut，andWarhorse，notalittlepuzzled，sneakedaroundtofindanother，withoutsuccess，until，aroundthefront，herewasthegatewideopen，andinsidelyingonsomeboardswasthebigDog，fastasleep。TheHensweresittinghunchedupinthewarmestcorneroftheyard。ThehouseCatwasgingerlypickingherwayfrombarntokitchen，asWarhorsehaltedinthegateway。
Theblackformofhispursuerwascrawlingdownthefarwhiteprairieslope。Jackhoppedquietlyintotheyard。Along—leggedRooster，thatoughttohavemindedhisownbusiness，utteredaloudcackleashesawtheRabbithoppingnear。TheDoglyinginthesunraisedhisheadandstoodup，andJack’sperilwasdire。
Hesquattedlowandturnedhimselfintoagrayclod。Hediditcleverly，butstillmighthavebeenlostbutfortheCat。
Unwittingly，unwillingly，shesavedhim。TheblackDoghadtakenthreestepstowardtheWarhorse，thoughhedidnotknowtheRabbitwasthere，andwasnowblockingtheonlywayofescapefromtheyard，whentheCatcameroundthecornerofthehouse，andleapingtoawindow—ledgebroughtaflower—potrollingdown。
BythatsingleawkwardactshedisturbedthearmedneutralityexistingbetweenherselfandtheDog。Shefledtothebarn，andofcourseaflyingfoeisallthatisneededtosendaDogonthewar—path。TheypassedwithinthirtyfeetofthecrouchingRabbit。
Assoonastheywerewellgone，Jackturned，andwith—outevena\"Thankyou，Pussy，\"hefledtotheopenandawayonthehard—beatenroad。
TheCathadbeenrescuedbytheladyofthehouse;theDogwasoncemoresprawlingontheboardswhenthemanonJack’strailarrived。Hecarried，notagun，butastoutstick，sometimescalled\"dog—medicine，\"andthatwasallthatpreventedtheDogattackingtheenemyofhisprey。
Thisseemedtobetheendofthetrail。Thetrick，whetherplannedornot，wasasuccess，andtheRabbitgotridofhistroublesomefollower。
NextdaythestrangermadeanothersearchfortheJackandfound，nothimself，buthistrack。Heknewitbyitstail—mark，itslongleapsandfewspy—hops，butwithitandrunningbyitwasthetrackofasmallerRabbit。Hereiswheretheymet，heretheychasedeachotherinplay，fornosignsofbattleweretheretobeseen;heretheyfedorsattogetherinthesun，theretheyambledsidebyside，andhereagaintheysportedinthesnow，alwaystogether。Therewasonlyoneconclusion：thiswasthematingseason。ThiswasapairofJack—rabbits——theLittleWarhorseandhismate。
IV
NextsummerwasawonderfulyearfortheJack—rabbits。AfoolishlawhadsetabountyonHawksandOwlsandhadcausedageneralmassacreofthesefeatheredpolicemen。ConsequentlytheRabbitshadmultipliedinsuchnumbersthattheynowwerethreateningtodevastatethecountry。
Thefarmers，whowerethesufferersfromthebountylaw，aswellasthemakersofit，decidedonagreatRabbitdrive。Allthecountywasinvitedtocome，onagivenmorning，tothemainroadnorthofthecounty，withtheintentionofsweepingthewholeregionup—windandatlengthdrivingtheRabbitsintoahugecorralofclosewirenetting。Dogswerebarredasunmanageable，andgunsasdangerousinacrowd;buteverymanandboycarriedacoupleoflongsticksandabagfullofstones。Womencameonhorsebackandinbuggies;manycarriedrattlesorhornsandtinstomakeanoise。Anumberofthebuggiestrailedastringofoldcansortiedlathstoscrapeonthewheel—spokes，andthusaddnolittletothedeafeningclatterofthedrive。AsRabbitshavemarvellouslysensitivehearing，anoisethatisdistractingtomankind，islikelytoprovebewilderingtothem。
Theweatherwasright，andateightinthemorningthewordtoadvancewasgiven。Thelinewasaboutfivemileslongatfirst，andtherewasamanoraboyeverythirtyorfortyyards。Thebuggiesandriderskeptperforcealmostentirelytotheroads;
butthebeatersweresupposed，asapointofhonor，tofaceeverything，andkeepthefrontunbroken。Theadvancewasroughlyinthreesidesofasquare。Eachmanmadeasmuchnoiseashecould，andthreshedeverybushinhispath。AnumberofRabbitshoppedout。Somemadeforthelines，tobeatonceassailedbyashowerofstonesthatlaidmanyofthemlow。Oneortwodidgetthroughandescaped，butthemajorityweresweptbeforethedrive。Atfirstthenumberseenwassmall，butbeforethreemileswerecoveredtheRabbitswererunningaheadineverydirection。
Afterfivemiles——andthattookaboutthreehours——thewordforthewingstocloseinwasgiven。Thespacebetweenthemenwasshorteneduptilltheywerelessthantenfeetapart，andthewholedriveconvergedonthecorralwithitstwolongguidewingsorfences;theendlinesjoinedthesewings，andthesurroundwascomplete。Thedriversmarchedrapidlynow;scoresoftheRabbitswerekilledastheyrantoonearthebeaters。Theirbodiesstrewedtheground，buttheswarmsseemedtoincrease;andinthefinalmove，beforethevictimswerecoopedupinthecorral，thetwo—acrespacesurroundedwasawhirlingthrongofskurrying，jumping，boundingRabbits。Roundandroundtheycircledandleaped，lookingforachancetoescape;buttheinexorablecrowdgrewthickerastheringgrewsteadilysmaller，andthewholeswarmwasforcedalongthechuteintothetightcorral，sometosquatstupidlyinthemiddle，sometoraceroundtheouterwall，sometoseekhidingincornersorundereachother。
AndtheLittleWarhorse——wherewasheinallthis？Thedrivehadswepthimalong，andhehadbeenoneofthefirsttoenterthecorral。Butacuriousplanofselectionhadbeenestablished。Thepenwastobeadeath—trapfortheRabbits，exceptthebest，thesoundest。Andmanyweretherethatwereunsound;thosethatthinkofallwildanimalsaspureandperfectthings，wouldhavebeenshockedtoseehowmanyhalt，maimed，anddiseasedtherewereinthatpenoffourthousandorfivethousandJack—rabbits。
ItwasaRomanvictory——therabbleofprisonerswastobebutchered。Thechoicestweretobereservedforthearena。Thearena？Yes，thatistheCoursingPark。
Inthatcorraltrap，preparedbeforehandfortheRabbits，wereanumberofsmallboxesalongthewall，awholeseriesofthem，fivehundredatleast，eachlargeenoughtoholdoneJack。
Inthelastrushofdriving，theswiftestJacksgotfirsttothepen。Somewereswiftandsilly;whenonceinsidetheyrushedwildlyroundandround。Somewereswiftandwise;theyquicklysoughtthehidingaffordedbythelittleboxes;allofthesewerenowfull。Thusfivehundredoftheswiftestandwisesthadbeenselected，in，notbyanymeansaninfallibleway，butthesimplestandreadiest。ThesefivehundredweredestinedtobecoursedbyGreyhounds。Thesurgingmassofoverfourthousandwereruthlesslygiventoslaughter。
