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Slipper Slyman had been honorably reinstated and Mickey reduced to the
rank of Jack…starter； but that merely helped to turn his sympathies from the
Dogs to the Rabbits； or rather to the Warhorse； for of all the five hundred
that were brought in from the drive he alone had won renown。 There were
several that crossed the Park to run again another day； but he alone had
crossed the course without getting even a turn。 Twice a week the meets
took place； forty or fifty Jacks were killed each time； and the five hundred
in the pen had been nearly all eaten of the arena。
The Warhorse had run each day； and as often had made the Haven。
Mickey became wildly enthusiastic about his favorite's powers。 He begot a
positive affection for the clean…limbed racer； and stoutly maintained
against all that it was a positive honor to a Dog to be disgraced by such a
Jack。
It is so seldom that a Rabbit crosses the track at all； that when Jack did
it six times without having to dodge； the papers took note of it； and after
each meet there appeared a notice： 〃The Little Warhorse crossed again
today； old…timers say it shows how our Dogs are deteriorating。〃
After the sixth time the rabbit…keepers grew enthusiastic； and Mickey；
commander…in…chief of the brigade； became intemperate in his admiration。
〃Be jabers； he has a right to be torned loose。 He has won his freedom loike
ivery Amerikin done；〃 he added； by way of appeal to the patriotism of the
Steward of the race； who was； of course； the real owner of the Jacks。
〃All right； Mick； if he gets across thirteen times you can ship him back
to his native land；〃 was the reply。
〃Shure now； an' won't you make it tin； sor？〃
〃No； no； I need him to take the conceit out of some of the new Dogs
that are coming。〃
〃Thirteen toimes and he is free； sor； it's a bargain。〃
A new lot of Rabbits arrived about this time； and one of these was
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colored much like Little Warhorse。 He had no such speed； but to prevent
mistakes Mickey caught his favorite by driving him into one of the padded
shipping…boxes； and proceeded with the gate…keeper's punch to earmark
him。 The punch was sharp； a clear star was cut out of the thin flap； when
Mickey exclaimed： 〃Faix； an' Oi'll punch for ivery toime ye cross the
coorse。〃 So he cut six stars in a row。 〃Thayer now； Warrhorrse； shure it's a
free Rabbit ye'll be when ye have yer thirteen stars like our flag of liberty
hed when we got free。〃
Within a week the Warhorse had vanquished the new Greyhounds and
had stars enough to go round the right ear and begin on the left。 In a week
more the thirteen runs were completed； six stars in the left ear and seven in
the right； and the newspapers had new material。
〃Whoop！〃 How Mickey hoorayed！ 〃An' it's a free Jack ye are；
Warrhorrse！ Thirteen always wuz a lucky number。 I never knowed it to
fail。〃
IX
〃Yes； I know I did；〃 said the Steward。 〃But I want to give him one
more run。 I have a bet on him against a new Dog here。 It won't hurt him
now； he can do it。 Oh； well。 Here now； Mickey； don't you get sassy。 One
run more this afternoon。 The Dogs run two or three times a day； why not
the Jack？〃
〃They're not shtakin' thayre loives； sor。〃
〃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
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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
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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；