animal heroes(动物英雄)-第24节
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high board fence with a hen…hole； and where also there dwelt his other
hated enemy； the big black Dog。 An outer hedge delayed the Greyhound
for a moment and gave Jack time to dash through the hen…hole into the
yard； where he hid to one side。 The Greyhound rushed around to the low
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gate； leaped over that among the Hens； and as they fled cackling and
fluttering； some Lambs bleated loudly。 Their natural guardian； the big
black Dog； ran to the rescue； and Warhorse slipped out again by the hole at
which he had entered。 Horrible sounds of Dog hate and fury were heard
behind him in the hen…yard； and soon the shouts of men were added。 How
it ended he did not know or seek to learn； but it was remarkable that he
never afterward was troubled by the swift Greyhound that formerly lived
in Newchusen。
II
Hard times and easy times had long followed in turn and been taken as
matters of course； but recent years in the State of Kaskado had brought to
the Jack…rabbits a succession of remarkable ups and downs。 In the old days
they had their endless 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…seasoned
remained。 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
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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
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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
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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
