animal heroes(动物英雄)-第26节
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track。
Now some Rabbits seeing only a man without any Dog would have
felt little fear； but Warhorse； remembering some former stinging
experiences with a far…killer； fled when the foe was seventy…five yards
away； and skimming low； he ran southeast to a fence that ran easterly。
Behind this he went like a low…flying Hawk； till a mile away he reached
another of his beds； and here； after an observation taken as he stood on
his heels； he settled again to rest。
But not for long。 In twenty minutes his great megaphone ears； so close
to the ground； caught a regular sound …crunch； crunch； crunchthe tramp
of a human foot； and he started up to see the man with the shining stick in
his hand； now drawing near。
Warhorse bounded out and away for the fence。 Never once did he rise
to a 〃spy…hop〃 till the wire and rails were between him and his foe； an
unnecessary precaution as it chanced； for the man was watching the trail
and saw nothing of the Rabbit。
Jack skimmed along； keeping low and looking out for other enemies。
He knew now that the man was on his track； and the old instinct born of
ancestral trouble with Weasels was doubtless what prompted him to do the
double trail。 He ran in a long； straight course to a distant fence； followed
its far side for fifty yards； then doubling back he retraced his trail and ran
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off in a new direction till he reached another of his dens or forms。 He had
been out all night and was very ready to rest； now that the sun was ablaze
on the snow； but he had hardly got the place a little warmed when the
〃tramp； tramp； tramp〃 announced the enemy； and he hurried away。
After a half…a…mile run he stopped on a slight rise and marked the man
still following； so he made a series of wonderful quirks in his trail； a
succession of blind zigzags that would have puzzled most trailers； then
running a hundred yards past a favorite form； he returned to it from the
other side； and settled to rest； sure that now the enemy would be finally
thrown off the scent。
It was slower than before； but still it came〃tramp； tramp； tramp。〃
Jack awoke； but sat still。 The man tramped by on the trail one hundred
yards in front of him； and as he went on； Jack sprang out unseen； realizing
that this was an unusual occasion needing a special effort。 They had gone
in a vast circle around the home range of the Warhorse and now were less
than a mile from the farm…house of the black Dog。 There was that
wonderful board fence with the happily planned hen…hole。 It was a place
of good memoryhere more than once he had won； here especially he had
baffled the Greyhound。
These doubtless were the motive thoughts rather than any plan of
playing one enemy against another； and Warhorse bounded openly across
the snow to the fence of the big black Dog。
The hen…hole was shut； and Warhorse； not a little puzzled； sneaked
around to find another； without success； until； around the front； here was
the gate wide open； and inside lying on some boards was the big Dog； fast
asleep。 The Hens were sitting hunched up in the warmest corner of the
yard。 The house Cat was gingerly picking her way from barn to kitchen； as
Warhorse halted in the gateway。
The black form of his pursuer was crawling down the far white prairie
slope。 Jack hopped quietly into the yard。 A long…legged Rooster； that ought
to have minded his own business； uttered a loud cackle as he saw the
Rabbit hopping near。 The Dog lying in the sun raised his head and stood
up； and Jack's peril was dire。 He squatted low and turned himself into a
gray clod。 He did it cleverly； but still might have been lost but for the Cat。
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Unwittingly； unwillingly； she saved him。 The black Dog had taken three
steps toward the Warhorse； though he did not know the Rabbit was there；
and was now blocking the only way of escape from the yard； when the Cat
came round the corner of the house； and leaping to a window…ledge
brought a flower…pot rolling down。 By that single awkward act she
disturbed the armed neutrality existing between herself and the Dog。 She
fled to the barn； and of course a flying foe is all that is needed to send a
Dog on the war…path。 They passed within thirty feet of the crouching
Rabbit。 As soon as they were well gone； Jack turned； and with…out even a
〃Thank you； Pussy；〃 he fled to the open and away on the hard…beaten road。
The Cat had been rescued by the lady of the house； the Dog was once
more sprawling on the boards when the man on Jack's trail arrived。 He
carried； not a gun； but a stout stick； sometimes called 〃dog…medicine；〃 and
that was all that prevented the Dog attacking the enemy of his prey。
This seemed to be the end of the trail。 The trick； whether planned or
not； was a success； and the Rabbit got rid of his troublesome follower。
Next day the stranger made another search for the Jack and found； not
himself； but his track。 He knew it by its tail…mark； its long leaps and few
spy…hops； but with it and running by it was the track of a smaller Rabbit。
Here is where they met； here they chased each other in play； for no signs
of battle were there to be seen； here they fed or sat together in the sun；
there they ambled side by side； and here again they sported in the snow；
always together。 There was only one conclusion： this was the mating
season。 This was a pair of Jack…rabbitsthe Little Warhorse and his mate。
IV
Next summer was a wonderful year for the Jack…rabbits。 A foolish law
had set a bounty on Hawks and Owls and had caused a general massacre
of these feathered policemen。 Consequently the Rabbits had multiplied in
such numbers that they now were threatening to devastate the country。
The farmers； who were the sufferers from the bounty law； as well as
the makers of it； decided on a great Rabbit drive。 All the county was
invited to come； on a given morning； to the main road north of the county；
with the intention of sweeping the whole region up…wind and at length
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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 t
