The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-12-20
Rabbits In Kansas.

We rode up tie deeply -furrowcd steep
hillside to the level land of the divide.
Here, calling our dogs from the wagon, we
spread out, and each of us, accompanied by
his own dogs, rode forward in u line forty
rods apart. The dogs trottcd slowly along,
heads up and tails down, while the horse
men watched for rabbits. A yell from the
eN-Confedcrate in gray, and instantly the
hounds sprang forward and with eager
eyes gazcd in the direction of the cry.
There they saw jack rabbit jumping NM
bly, along in front of the horse of the yelling
man. AT once u dozen powerful hounds
were in full pursuit. The rabbit at once
saw that these dogs meant business, and
stopping his capers began to run. lie had
probably been chased many times by ours
and apparently had no doubt of his ability
I" run away from any dog; but he was
considerably astonishcd to find that this
pack OF grim, silent dogs with outsiretched
heads were gaining on him. lie redoubled
his efforts. No use; the pack Of yellow,
blue and white hounds drew nearer and
nearer TO him. His astonishmcnt now gave
place to the most intense terror, and he
irantically cndcavorcd to escape his fate
Behind the coursing dogs camc line of
horsemen, all the riders yelling like demons
each encouraging his own dogs. ellie
on Yicl yie! yie! Catch i'm. Ponto
Catch 'im!" 10 this excitement the cattle
men added bull-likc bcllowings The fast
est dog in the pack was on the rabbit. IIe
made his offer for him. The jacl1 turned
like lightning. The ompty jaws of tho dog
came together with Il snap that sounded
ike the spring Of Il steel trap. In turning
alter the rabbit this dog was struck by an
other, and both rolled over and over on the
grass. They got up bewildcrcd to find the
rabbit some fifty yards away, and another
dog ready to make a pass ut him. 1t is
made. and again the jack is misscd he
turned aside, to fall into the jaws of pup.
The shrill cry Of tho rabbit and the sound
OF his cruuchcd bones is heard, and all is
over. Some one dismountcd, and took the
jack away from the dogs. and tied il to his
saddle. We rested our horses and brcathcd
our dogs. All agreed that the jack had
done well. lie was praised as mighty
good rabbit. Mounting; VIC reformed our
line and rode forward. a yoll frem the
right. a big jack was madly running there.
All took after him, and as wc ran, four
other rabbits got up in quick succession,
and our dogs divided into parties of two
and three. My pair of blue hounds were
running together, and a hundred yards
ahead of them big jack rabbit was bound
ing along Putting spurs to Il powerful
Pat Claybournc horse, and with yell of
encouragement to my hounds, away we
swept, over hills, over the levels, down
steep hilsidcs, jumping ravincs, always at
full gallop, and faster and fas;er ran the
10 1,x
to give him chance for his life, l refused
to ride ahead of the dogs and SO turn him
OH for them. If the hounds caught him
they should do it fairly. The pace got too
gained on him. 'Tney drew near TO lin,
and separating, tho dog made al offer for
the flying animal. The rabbit lodged to
the left and fairly ran into the mouth of the
itch. She, overbalanced by the sudden
weight in her mouth, turned somersault
and came down with tllld and a grlmt on
her back, but held the struggling rabbit
fast III her long jaws. l tied this animal
to my saddle, and seeing q ravinc, l called
my dogs and we went to tho water They
rushed in, and sitting down in the cool
fluid up to their shoulders, they bit into the
drink, swallowing great moulhfuls of IL;
then lying down with only their heads out,
half of their lolling tongues dangling in the
water, they coilcd off, l, reclining on the
soft grass by the bank of the pool, watched
their jaws gradually close ard their tongues
slowly draw back III their mouths When
their jaws were closed, and they were
breathing naturally through their noses, |
mounted and we started back for the wagon
Another rabbit got up, and this one grace
fully ran away from my hounds. They
followed him sharply for couple of miles,
but would not turn him with my horse,
and he fairly outran them. The last l saw
of this rabbit he was going over the crest
of bare ridge about mile off, and from
the pace at which lie was travelling l jud-
gcd he had just awakened to the knowledge
that dogs in the plural number were around