animal heroes-第20节

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fight　with　Birds　and　Beasts　of　Prey；　with　cold　and　heat；　with
pestilence　and　with　flies　whose　sting　bred　a　loathsome　disease；
and　yet　had　held　their　own。　But　the　settling　of　the　country　by
farmers　made　many　changes。

Dogs　and　guns　arriving　in　numbers　reduced　the　ranks　of　Coyotes；
Foxes；　Wolves；　Badgers；　and　Hawks　that　preyed　on　the　Jack；　so
that　in　a　few　years　the　Rabbits　were　multiplied　in　great　swarms；
but　now　Pestilence　broke　out　and　swept　them　away。　Only　the
strongestthe　double…seasonedremained。　For　a　while　a　　　
Jack…rabbit　was　a　rarity；　but　during　this　time　another　change
came　in。　The　Osage…orange　hedges　planted　everywhere　afforded　a
new　refuge；　and　now　the　safety　of　a　Jack…rabbit　was　less　often
his　speed　than　his　wits；　and　the　wise　ones；　when　pursued　by　a　Dog
or　Coyote；　would　rush　to　the　nearest　hedge　through　a　small　hole
and　escape　while　the　enemy　sought　for　a　larger　one　by　which　to
follow。　The　Coyotes　rose　to　this　and　developed　the　trick　of　the
relay　chase。　In　this　one　Coyote　takes　one　field；　another　the
next；　and　if　the　Rabbit　attempts　the　〃hedge…ruse〃　they　work　from
each　side　and　usually　win　their　prey。　The　Rabbit　remedy　for　this；
is　keen　eyes　to　see　the　second　Coyote；　avoidance　of　that　field；
then　good　legs　to　distance　the　first　enemy。
　
Thus　the　Jack…rabbits；　after　being　successively　numerous；　scarce；
in　myriads；　and　rare；　were　now　again　on　the　increase；　and　those
which　survived；　selected　by　a　hundred　hard　trials；　were　enabled
to　flourish　where　their　ancestors　could　not　have　outlived　a
single　season。

Their　favorite　grounds　were；　not　the　broad　open　stretches　of　the
big　ranches；　but　the　complicated；　much…fenced　fields　of　the
farms；　where　these　were　so　small　and　close　as　to　be　like　a　big
straggling　village。

One　of　these　vegetable　villages　had　sprung　up　around　the　railway
station　of　Newchusen。　The　country　a　mile　away　was　well　supplied
with　Jack…rabbits　of　the　new　and　selected　stock。　Among　them　was　a
little　lady　Rabbit　called　〃Bright…eyes；〃　from　her　leading
characteristic　as　she　sat　gray　in　the　gray　brush。
She　was　a　good　runner；　but　was　especially　successful　with　the
fence…play　that　baffled　the　Coyotes。　She　made　her　nest　out　in　an
open　pasture；　an　untouched　tract　of　the　ancient　prairie。　Here　her
brood　were　born　and　raised。　One　like　herself　was　bright…eyed；　in
coat　of　silver…gray；　and　partly　gifted　with　her　ready　wits；　but
in　the　other；　there　appeared　a　rare　combination　of　his　mother's
gifts　with　the　best　that　was　in　the　best　strain　of　the　new
Jack…rabbits　of　the　plains。

This　was　the　one　whose　adventures　we　have　been　following；　the　one
that　later　on　the　turf　won　the　name　of　Little　Warhorse　and　that
afterward　achieved　a　world…wide　fame。

Ancient　tricks　of　his　kind　he　revived　and　put　to　new　uses；　and
ancient　enemies　he　learned　to　fight　with　new…found　tricks。

When　a　mere　baby　he　discovered　a　plan　that　was　worthy　of　the
wisest　Rabbit　in　Kaskado。　He　was　pursued　by　a　horrible　little
Yellow　Dog；　and　he　had　tried　in　vain　to　get　rid　of　him　by　dodging
among　the　fields　and　farms。　This　is　good　play　against　a　Coyote；
because　the　farmers　and　the　Dogs　will　often　help　the　Jack；
without　knowing　it；　by　attacking　the　Coyote。　But　now　the　plan　did
not　work　at　all；　for　the　little　Dog　managed　to　keep　after　him
through　one　fence　after　another；　and　Jack　Warhorse；　not　yet
full…grown；　much　less　seasoned；　was　beginning　to　feel　the　strain。
His　ears　were　no　longer　up　straight；　but　angling　back　and　at
times　drooping　to　a　level；　as　he　darted　through　a　very　little
hole　in　an　Osage　hedge；　only　to　find　that　his　nimble　enemy　had
done　the　same　without　loss　of　time。　In　the　middle　of　the　field
was　a　small　herd　of　cattle　and　with　them　a　calf。

There　is　in　wild　animals　a　curious　impulse　to　trust　any　stranger
when　in　desperate　straits。　The　foe　behind　they　know　means　death。
There　is　just　a　chance；　and　the　only　one　left；　that　the　stranger
may　prove　friendly；　and　it　was　this　last　desperate　chance　that
drew　Jack　Warhorse　to　the　Cows。

It　is　quite　sure　that　the　Cows　would　have　stood　by　in　stolid
indifference　so　far　as　the　Rabbit　was　concerned；　but　they　have　a
deep…rooted　hatred　of　a　dog；　and　when　they　saw　the　Yellow　Cur
coming　bounding　toward　them；　their　tails　and　noses　went　up；　they
sniffed　angrily；　then　closed　up　ranks；　and　led　by　the　Cow　that
owned　the　Calf；　they　charged　at　the　Dog；　while　Jack　took　refuge
under　a　low　thorn…bush。　The　Dog　swerved　aside　to　attack　the　Calf；
at　least　the　old　Cow　thought　he　did；　and　she　followed　him　so
fiercely　that　he　barely　escaped　from　that　field　with　his　life。

It　was　a　good　old　planone　that　doubtless　came　from　the　days
when　Buffalo　and　Coyote　played　the　parts　of　Cow　and　Dog。　Jack
never　forgot　it；　and　more　than　once　it　saved　his　life。

In　color　as　well　as　in　power　he　was　a　rarity。　

Animals　are　colored　in　one　or　other　of　two　general　plans：　one
that　matches　them　with　their　surroundings　and　helps　them　to
hidethis　is　called　〃protective〃；　the　other　that　makes　them　very
visible　for　several　purposesthis　is　called　〃directive。〃
Jack…rabbits　are　peculiar　in　being　painted　both　ways。　As　they
squat　in　their　form　in　the　gray　brush　or　clods；　they　are　soft
gray　on　their　ears；　head；　back；　and　sides；　they　match　the　ground
and　cannot　be　seen　until　close　at　handthey　are　protectively
colored。　But　the　moment　it　is　clear　to　the　Jack　that　the
approaching　foe　will　find　him；　he　jumps　up　and　dashes　away。　He
throws　off　all　disguise　now；　the　gray　seems　to　disappear；　he
makes　a　lightning　change；　and　his　ears　show　snowy　white　with
black　tips；　the　legs　are　white；　his　tail　is　a　black　spot　in　a
blaze　of　white。　He　is　a　black…and…white　Rabbit　now。　His　coloring
is　all　directive。　How　is　it　done？　Very　simply。　The　front　side　of
the　ear　is　gray；　the　back；　black　and　white。　The　black　tail　with
its　white　halo；　and　the　legs；　are　tucked　below。　He　is　sitting　on
them。　The　gray　mantle　is　pulled　down　and　enlarged　as　he　sits；　but
when　he　jumps　up　it　shrinks　somewhat；　all　his　black…and…white
marks　are　now　shown；　and　just　as　his　colors　formerly　whispered；
〃I　am　a　clod；〃　they　now　shout　aloud；　〃I　am　a　Jack…rabbit。〃

Why　should　he　do　this？　Why　should　a　timid　creature　running　for
his　life　thus　proclaim　to　all　the　world　his　name　instead　of
trying　to　hide？　There　must　be　some　good　reason。　It　must　pay；　or
the　Rabbit　would　never　have　done　it。

The　answer　is；　if　the　creature　that　scared　him　up　was　one　of　his
own　kindi。e。；　this　was　a　false　alarmthen　at　once；　by　showing
his　national　colors；　the　mistake　is　made　right。　On　the　other
hand；　if　it　be　a　Coyote；　Fox；　or　Dog；　they　see　at　once；　this　is　a
Jack…rabbit；　and　know　that　it　would　be　waste　of　time　for　them　to
pursue　him。　They　say　in　effect；　〃This　is　a　Jack…rabbit；　and　I
cannot　catch　a　Jack　in　open　race。〃　They　give　it　up；　and　that；　of
course；　saves　the　Jack　a　great　deal　of　unnecessary　running　and
worry。　The　black…and…white　spots　are　the　national　uniform　and
flag　of　the　Jacks。　In　poor　specimens　they　are　apt　to　be　dull；　but
in　the　finest　specimens　they　are　not　only　larger；　but　brighter
than　usual；　and　the　Little　Warhorse；　gray　when　he　sat　in　his
form；　blazed　like　charcoal　and　snow；　when　he　flung　his　defiance
to　the　Fox　and　buff　Coyote；　and　danced　with　little　effort　before
them；　first　a　black…and…white　Jack；　then　a　little　white　spot；　and
last　a　speck　of　thistledown；　before　the　distance　swallowed　him。

Many　of　the　farmers'　Dogs　had　learned　the　lesson：　〃A　grayish
Rabbit　you　may　catch；　but　a　very　black…and…white　one　is
hopeless。〃　They　might；　indeed；　follow　for　a　time；　but　that　was
merely　for　the　fun　of　a　chivvy；　and　his　growing　power　often　led
Warhorse　to　seek　the　chase　for　the　sake　of　a　little　excitement；
and　to　take　hazards　that　others　less　gifted　were　most　careful　to
avoid。

Jack；　like　all　other　wild　animals；　had　a　certain　range　or　country
which　was　home　to　him；　and　outside　of　this　he　rarely　strayed。　It
was　about　three　miles　across；　extending　easterly　from　the　centre
of　the　village。　Scattered　through　this　he　had　a　number　of
〃forms；〃　or　〃beds〃　as　they　are　locally　called。　These　were　mere
hollows　situated　under　a　sheltering　bush　or　bunch　of　grass；
without　lining　excepting　the　accidental　grass　and　in…blown
leaves。　But　comfort　was　not　forgotten。　Some　of　them　were　for　hot
weather；　they　faced　the　north；　were　scarcely　sunk；　were　little
more　than　shady　places。　Some　for　the　cold　weather　were　deep
hollows　with　southern　exposure；　and　others　for　the　wet　were　well
roofed　with　herbage　and　faced　the　west。　In　one　or　other　of　these
he　spent　the　day；　and　at　night　he　went　forth　to　feed　with　his
kind；　sporting　and　romping　on　the　moonlight　nights　like　a　lot　of
puppy　Dogs；　but　careful　to　be　gone　by　sunrise；　and　safely　tucked
in　a　bed　that　was　suited　to　the　weather。

The　safest　ground　for　the　Jacks　was　among　the　farms；　where　not
only　Osage　hedges；　but　also　the　newly　arrived　barb…wire；　made
hurdles　and　hazards　in　the　path　of　possible　enemies。　But　the
finest　of　the　forage　is　nearer　to　the　village　among　the
truck…farmsthe　finest　of　forage　and　the　fiercest　of　dangers。
Some　of　the　dangers　of　the　plains　were　lacking；　but　the　greater
perils　of　men；　guns；　Dogs；　and　impassable　fences　are　much
increased。　Yet　those　who　knew　War