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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 blankets； but showing
their sinewy legs； their snaky necks； their shapely heads with long
reptilian jaws； and their quick； nervous yellow eyeshybrids of natural
force and human ingenuity； the most wonderful running…machines ever
made of flesh and blood。 Their keepers guarded them like jewels； tended
them like babies； and were careful to keep them from picking up odd
eatables； as well as prevent them smelling unusual objects or being
approached by strangers。 Large sums were wagered on these Dogs； and a
cunningly placed tack； a piece of doctored meat； yes； an artfully
compounded smell； has been known to turn a superb young runner into a
lifeless laggard； and to the owner this might spell ruin。 The Dogs entered
in each class are paired off； as each contest is supposed to be a duel； the
winners in the first series are then paired again。 In each trial； a Jack is
driven from the Starting…pen； close by in one leash are the rival Dogs； held
by the slipper。 As soon as the Hare is well away； the man has to get the
Dogs evenly started and slip them together。 On the field is the judge；
scarlet…coated and well mounted。 He follows the chase。 The Hare； mindful
of his training； speeds across the open； toward the Haven； in full view of
the Grand Stand。 The Dogs follow the Jack。 As the first one comes near
enough to be dangerous； the Hare balks him by dodging。 Each time the
Hare is turned； scores for the Dog that did it； and a final point is made by
the kill。
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Sometimes the kill takes place within one hundred yards of the start
that means a poor Jack； mostly it happens in front of the Grand Stand； but
on rare occasions it chances that the Jack goes sailing across the open Park
a good half…mile and； by dodging for time； runs to safety in the Haven。
Four finishes are possible： a speedy kill； a speedy winning of the Haven；
new Dogs to relieve the first runners； who would suffer heart…collapse in
the terrific strain of their pace； if kept up many minutes in hot weather；
and finally； for Rabbits that by continued dodging defy and jeopardize the
Dogs； and yet do not win the Haven； there is kept a loaded shotgun。
There is just as much jockeying at a Kaskado coursing as at a Kaskado
horse…race； just as many attempts at fraud； and it is just as necessary to
have the judge and slipper beyond suspicion。
The day before the next meet a man of diamonds saw Irish Mickeyby
chance。 A cigar was all that visibly passed； but it had a green wrapper that
was slipped off before lighting。 Then a word： 〃If you wuz slipper to…
morrow and it so came about that Dignam's Minkie gets done； wall；it
means another cigar。〃
〃Faix； an' if I wuz slipper I could load the dice so Minkie would flyer
score a p'int； but her runnin' mate would have the same bad luck。〃
〃That so？〃 The diamond man looked interested。 〃All rightfix it so； it
means two cigars。〃
Slipper Slyman had always dealt on the square； had scorned many
approachesthat was well known。 Most believed in him； but there were
some malcontents； and when a man with many gold seals approached the
Steward and formulated charges； serious and well…backed； they must
perforce suspend the slipper pending an inquiry； and thus Mickey Doo
reigned in his stead。
Mickey was poor and not over…scrupulous。 Here was a chance to make
a year's pay in a minute； nothing wrong about it； no harm to the Dog or the
Rabbit either。
One Jack…rabbit is much like another。 Everybody knows that； it was
simply a question of choosing your Jack。
The preliminaries were over。 Fifty Jacks had been run and killed。
Mickey had done his work satisfactorily； a fair slip had been given to
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Animal Heroes
every leash。 He was still in command as slipper。 Now came the final for
the cupthe cup and the large stakes。
VII
There were the slim and elegant Dogs awaiting their turn。 Minkie and
her rival were first。 Everything had been fair so far； and who can say that
what followed was unfair？ Mickey could turn out which Jack he pleased。
〃Number three！〃 he called to his partner。
Out leaped the Little Warhorse；black and white his great ears； easy
and low his five…foot bounds； gazing wildly at the unwonted crowd about
the Park； he leaped high in one surprising spy…hop。
〃Hrrrrr！〃 shouted the slipper； and his partner rattled a stick on the
fence。 The Warhorse's bounds increased to eight or nine feet。
〃Hrrrrrr！〃 and they were ten or twelve feet。 At thirty yards the Hounds
were slippedan even slip； some thought it could have been done at
twenty yards。
〃Hrrrrrr！ Hrrrrrrr！〃 and the Warhorse was doing fourteen…foot leaps；
not a spy…hop among them。
〃Hrrrrr！ 〃wonderful Dogs！ how they sailed； but drifting ahead of them；
like a white sea…bird or flying scud； was the Warhorse。 Away past the
Grand Stand。 And the Dogswere they closing the gap of start？ Closing！ It
was lengthening！ In less time than it takes to tell it； that black…and…white
thistledown had drifted away through the Haven door；the door so like
that good old hen…hole；and the Grey…hounds pulled up amidst a roar of
derision and cheers for the Little Warhorse。 How Mickey did laugh！ How
Dignam did swear！ How the newspaper men did scribblescribble
scribble！
Next day there was a paragraph in all the papers： 〃WONDERFUL
FEAT OF A JACKRABBIT。 The Little Warhorse； as he has been styled；
completely skunked two of the most famous Dogs on the turf；〃 etc。
There was a fierce wrangle among the dog…men。 This was a tie； since
neither had scored； and Minkie and her rival were allowed to run again；
but that half…mile had been too hot； and they had no show for the cup。
Mickey met 〃Diamonds〃 next day； by chance。
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〃Have a cigar； Mickey。〃
〃Oi will thot； sor。 Faix； thim's so foine； I'd loike twothank ye； sor。〃
VIII
From that time the Little Warhorse became the pride of the Irish boy。
Slipper Slyman had been honorably reinstated and Mickey reduced to the
rank of Jack…starter； but that