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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
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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。
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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
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than thot； Oi'll put up a hull month's stuff thot there ain't a dog