animal heroes(动物英雄)-第27节
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or fences； the end lines joined these wings； and the surround was complete。
The drivers marched rapidly now； scores of the Rabbits were killed as they
ran too near the beaters。 Their bodies strewed the ground； but the swarms
seemed to increase； and in the final move； before the victims were cooped
up in the corral； the two…acre space surrounded was a whirling throng of
skurrying； jumping； bounding Rabbits。 Round and round they circled and
leaped； looking for a chance to escape； but the inexorable crowd grew
thicker as the ring grew steadily smaller； and the whole swarm was forced
along the chute into the tight corral； some to squat stupidly in the middle；
some to race round the outer wall； some to seek hiding in corners or under
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each other。
And the Little Warhorsewhere was he in all this？ The drive had
swept him along； and he had been one of the first to enter the corral。 But a
curious plan of selection had been established。 The pen was to be a death…
trap for the Rabbits； except the best； the soundest。 And many were there
that were unsound； those that think of all wild animals as pure and perfect
things； would have been shocked to see how many halt； maimed； and
diseased there were in that pen of four thousand or five thousand Jack…
rabbits。
It was a Roman victorythe rabble of prisoners was to be butchered。
The choicest were to be reserved for the arena。 The arena？ Yes； that is the
Coursing Park。
In that corral trap； prepared beforehand for the Rabbits； were a number
of small boxes along the wall； a whole series of them； five hundred at least；
each large enough to hold one Jack。
In the last rush of driving； the swiftest Jacks got first to the pen。 Some
were swift and silly； when once inside they rushed wildly round and round。
Some were swift and wise； they quickly sought the hiding afforded by the
little boxes； all of these were now full。 Thus five hundred of the swiftest
and wisest had been selected； in； not by any means an infallible way； but
the simplest and readiest。 These five hundred were destined to be coursed
by Greyhounds。 The surging mass of over four thousand were ruthlessly
given to slaughter。
Five hundred little boxes with five hundred bright…eyed Jack…rabbits
were put on the train that day； and among them was Little Jack Warhorse。
V
Rabbits take their troubles lightly； and it is not to be supposed that any
great terror was felt by the boxed Jacks； once the uproar of the massacre
was over； and when they reached the Coursing Park near the great city and
were turned out one by one； very gently；yes； gently； the Roman guards
were careful of their prisoners； being responsible for them；the Jacks
found little to complain of； a big inclosure with plenty of good food； and
no enemies to annoy them。
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The very next morning their training began。 A score of hatchways
were opened into a much larger fieldthe Park。 After a number of Jacks
had wandered out through these doors a rabble of boys appeared and drove
them back； pursuing them noisily until all were again in the smaller field；
called the Haven。 A few days of this taught the Jack…rabbits that when
pursued their safety was to get back by one of the hatches into the Haven。
Now the second lesson began。 The whole band were driven out of a
side door into a long lane which led around three sides of the Park to
another inclosure at the far end。 This was the Starting Pen。 Its door into the
arenathat is； the Parkwas opened； the Rabbits driven forth； and then a
mob of boys and Dogs in hiding； burst forth and pursued them across the
open。 The whole army went bobbing and bounding away； some of the
younger ones soaring in a spy…hop； as a matter of habit； but low skimming
ahead of them all was a gorgeous black…and…white one； clean…limbed and
bright…eyed； he had attracted attention in the pen； but now in the field he
led the band with easy lope that put him as far ahead of them all as they
were ahead of the rabble of common Dogs。
〃Luk at thot； would yebut ain't he a Little Warhorse？〃 shouted a
villainous…looking Irish stable…boy； and thus he was named。 When halfway
across the course the Jacks remembered the Haven； and all swept toward it
and in like a snow…cloud over the drifts。
This was the second lessonto lead straight for the Haven as soon as
driven from the Pen。 In a week all had learned it； and were ready for the
great opening meet of the Coursing Club。
The Little Warhorse was now well known to the grooms and hangers…
on； his colors usually marked him clearly； and his leadership was in a
measure recognized by the long…eared herd that fled with him。 He figured
more or less with the Dogs in the talk and betting of the men。
〃Wonder if old Dignam is going to enter Minkie this year？〃
〃Faix； an' if he does I bet the Little Warhorse will take the gimp out av
her an' her runnin' mate。〃
〃I'll bet three to one that my old Jen will pick the Warhorse up before
he passes the grand stand；〃 growled a dog…man。
〃An' it's meself will take thot bet in dollars；〃 said Mickey； 〃an'； moore
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than thot； Oi'll put up a hull month's stuff thot there ain't a dog in the mate
thot kin turrn the Warrhorrse oncet on the hull coorse。〃
So they wrangled and wagered； but each day； as they put the Rabbits
through their paces； there were more of those who believed that they had
found a wonderful runner in the Warhorse； one that would give the best
Greyhounds something that is rarely seen； a straight stern chase from Start
to Grand Stand and Haven。
VI
The first morning of the meet arrived bright and promising。 The Grand
Stand was filled with a city crowd。 The usual types of a racecourse
appeared in force。 Here and there were to be seen the dog…grooms leading
in leash single Greyhounds or couples； shrouded in blankets； but showing
their sinewy legs； their snaky necks； their shapely heads with long
reptilian jaws； and their quick； nervous yellow eyeshybrids of natural
force and human ingenuity； the most wonderful running…machines ever
made of flesh and blood。 Their keepers guarded them like jewels； tended
them like babies； and were careful to keep them from picking up odd
eatables； as well as prevent them smelling unusual objects or being
approached by strangers。 Large sums were wagered on these Dogs； and a
cunningly placed tack； a piece of doctored meat； yes； an artfully
compounded smell； has been known to turn a superb young runner into a
lifeless laggard； and to the owner this might spell ruin。 The Dogs entered
in each class are paired off； as each contest is supposed to be a duel； the
winners in the first series are then paired again。 In each trial； a Jack is
driven from the Starting…pen； close by in one leash are the rival Dogs； held
by the slipper。 As soon as the Hare is well away； the man has to get the
Dogs evenly started and slip them together。 On the field is the judge；
scarlet…coated and well mounted。 He follows the chase。 The Hare； mindful
of his training； speeds across the open； toward the Haven； in full view of
the Grand Stand。 The Dogs follow the Jack。 As the first one comes near
enough to be dangerous； the Hare balks him by dodging。 Each time the
Hare is turned； scores for the Dog that did it； and a final point is made by
the kill。
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Sometimes the kill takes place within one hundred yards of the start
that means a poor Jack； mostly it happens in front of the Grand Stand； but
on rare occasions it chances that the Jack goes sailing across the open Park
a good half…mile and； by dodging for time； runs to safety in the Haven。
Four finishes are possible： a speedy kill； a speedy winning of the Haven；
new Dogs to relieve the first runners； who would suffe
