animal heroes(动物英雄)-第25节
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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
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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 Warhorse best were not at all surprised to
find that he had made a form in the middle of a market…gardener's melon…
patch。 A score of dangers beset him here； but there was also a score of
unusual delights and a score of holes in the fence for times when he had to
fly； with at least twoscore of expedients to help him afterward。
III
Newchusen was a typical Western town。 Everywhere in it； were to be
seen strenuous efforts at uglification； crowned with unmeasured success。
The streets were straight level lanes without curves or beauty…spots。 The
houses were cheap and mean structures of flimsy boards and tar paper； and
not even honest in their ugliness； for each of them was pretending to be
something better than itself。 One had a false front to make it look like two
stories； another was of imitation brick； a third pretended to be a marble
temple。
But all agreed in being the ugliest things ever used as human dwellings；
and in each could be read the owner's secret thoughtto stand it for a year
or so； then move out somewhere else。 The only beauties of the place； and
those unintentional； were the long lines of hand…planted shade…trees；
uglified as far as possible with whitewashed trunks and croppy heads； but
still lovable； growing； living things。
The only building in town with a touch of picturesqueness was the
grain elevator。 It was not posing as a Greek temple or a Swiss chalet； but
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simply a strong； rough； honest； grain elevator。 At the end of each street
was a vista of the prairie； with its farm…houses； windmill pumps； and long
lines of Osage…orange hedges。 Here at least was something of interestthe
gray…green hedges； thick； sturdy； and high； were dotted with their golden
mock…oranges； useless fruit； but more welcome here than rain in a desert；
for these balls were things of beauty； and swung on their long tough
boughs they formed with the soft green leaves a color…chord that pleased
the weary eye。
Such a town is a place to get out of； as soon as possible； so thought the
traveller who found himself laid over here for two days in late winter。 He
asked after the sights of the place。 A white Muskrat stuffed in a case
〃down to the saloon〃； old Baccy Bullin； who had been scalped by the
Indians forty years ago； and a pipe once smoked by Kit Carson； proved
unattractive； so he turned toward the prairie； still white with snow。
A mark among the numerous Dog tracks caught his eye： it was the
track of a large Jack…rabbit。 He asked a passer…by if there were any Rabbits
in town。 〃No； I reckon not。 I never seen none；〃 was the answer。 A mill…
hand gave the same reply； but a small boy with a bundle of newspapers
said： 〃You bet there is； there's lots of them out there on the prairie； and
they come in town a…plenty。 Why； there's a big； big feller lives right round
Si Kalb's melon…patchoh； an awful big feller； and just as black and as
white as checkers！〃 and thus he sent the stranger eastward on his walk。
The 〃big； big； awful big one〃 was the Little Warhorse himself。 He
didn't live in Kalb's melon…patch； he was there only at odd times。 He was
not there now； he was in his west…fronting form or bed； because a raw east
wind was setting in。 It was due east of Madison Avenue； and as the
stranger plodded that way the Rabbit watched him。 As long as the man
kept the road the Jack was quiet； but the road turned shortly to the north；
and the man by chance left it and came straight on。 Then the Jack saw
trouble ahead。 The moment the man left the beaten track； he bounded from
his form； and wheeling； he sailed across the prairie due east。
A Jack…rabbit running from its enemy ordinarily covers eight or nine
feet at a bound； and once in five or six bounds； it makes an observation
hop； leaping not along； but high in the air； so as to get above all herbage
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and bushes and take in the situation。 A silly young Jack will make an
observation hop as often as one in four； and so waste a great deal of time。
A clever Jack will make one hop in eight or nine； do for observation。 But
Jack Warhorse as he sped； got all the information he needed； in one hop
out of a dozen； while ten to fourteen feet were covered by each of his
flying bounds。 Yet another personal peculiarity showed in the trail he left。
When a Cottontail or a Wood…hare runs； his tail is curled up tight on his
back； and does not touch the snow。 When a Jack runs； his tail hangs
downward or backward； with the tip curved or straight； according to the
individual； in some； it points straight down； and so； often leaves a little
stroke behind the foot…marks。 The Warhorse's tail of shining black； was of
unusual length； and at every bound； it left in the snow； a long stroke； so
long that that alone was almost enough to tell which Rabbit had made the
track。
Now some Rabbits seeing only a man without any Dog would
