The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-01-29

launched from some invisible bow drawn
by giant power. A big jack rabbit, all
legs and ears, had listened quivering and
trembling to the sounds Of the approach
ing hunt. until an enterprising terrier,
foremost skirmisher of the line, fairly
tumbled over him as he crouched behind
n little bunch Of weeds: then with one
mighty leap and the accompaniment Of
a wild yelp from his dncoverer he sprang
forth into a race for his precious life.
"Hoy! hoy" yells the sergeant as he
sights the quarry. "Hurrahr shout the
nearest huntsmen. and, with enc simua-
taneous impulse, skirmishing ours,
stealthy, springing hounds, eager steeds,
and jubilant riders-men and women
away goes the entire field sweeping in
pursuit At first all Is one mad rush
until it is certain that the rabbit ia a
veteran who understands well the ma kim
that "a stern chase is a long chase" all
the world over.
Close behind the master Of the hounds.
all eyes fixed on that bounding tuft of
gray and white few score yards ahead,
bending over their horses necks and
keeping just enough pressure on the bit
to prevent overriding the huntsman, ride
Parke and Graham, two slight weights" I"
who have coursed many mile Of prairie.
Just behind them, little to their right.
rides Mrs. Belknap, her veil fiuttering
straight out behind, her glorious eyes
flashing, her dark skin flushed with tri-
umph and the exhilaration of the dash
ing pace, her little hands wound about In
the reins she holds 50 firmly Splcndidly
she sits her fleet racer. and Dana has to
urge and spur his clumsier troop horse
to keep in close attendance. These four
are we'll in advance of ali the others.
Back of them, gallantly urging on her
sturdy sorrel, comes Mrs. Sprague, with
Stryker riding warily alongside and
watching her "going" before he will sat
isfy himself that it is safe to trust her to
her own guiding. Level as the prairie
is here, he knows that mile or 80 ahead
there are "breaks" leading down into
the valley of one Of the innumerable
tributaries Of the Washita. Then the
story may be different.
He looks up in surprise at the thunder
of hoofs close alongside, and Mrs. Law
renee, with excitement in her eyes. over
takes, then passes them on the way to
the front. "See!" he points to his part
ner, "see that dark shadow across the
prairie out there. We cannot ride at this
pace when we pass that hollow; the
breaks set in still farther" He glances
over his shoulder and signals to the near
est officer to follow Mrs. Lawrence and
look out for her, and the gallant does his
best, but all are at top speed; the colonel
and the heavy weights-infantry and
cavalry-are beginning to lose ground,
and still that gray puff ball" far to the
front seems inch by inch to be slipping
away from his pursuers. Will he keep
his determined course, up hill and down,
straight away to the east, or will he lose
heart, tack, veer, double and twist? If
he swerve he is lost rabbit!
Far to the rear, yelping, painting, dis
tracted by this time, the terriers and
mongrels, the original leaders, have fall
en-. The field. too, is strung out nearly
mile deep at the end of the first six
minutes run, for some of the laggards
have given up and are disposed to wait
for the coming of the buggies and buck
boards. Here at the front all is tense
excitement. All eyes are on the rabbit,
for now or never will the crisis come.
The horses are breathing heavily, but
with no thought of slackening speed.
watch him now as he sights that
arroyoI" shouts Graham to Pafke, for
far out to the right front a ravine bussts
off to tho southeast, and one Of its shall
low contributors stretches obliquely
across the rabbits frenzied vision.
"Veer that way; he'll take it sure!'
shouts the huntsman; and, sure enough,
no sooner does he reach it than the gray
victim darts down the winding shelter,
as though hopeful that his sudden twist
would throw his pursuers off the sight;
scent the greyhound has none. The
move Is disastrous; "Hn" shout the lead
ing riders, waving the pursuit to the
right front. and, obed;ent to signal. the
foremost hounds sweep in long curve
into the coulee, striking it many yard
farther down than where the harried
chase first dived into its treacherous
shadows.
And now those hounds who were out
on the right flank are up in line with the
very leaders, and bounding along the
level at the side of the ravine. yet keep.
ing wary eye upon the chase. So, too,
the horsemen. Making a deep curve in
the ravine five hundred yards ahead. and
confident that Bunny viii biindly rush
along his winding track, they strike oui
across the prairie, gaining twenty horsA
lengths by the move; and now, with two
or three of tho oldest hounds, Parke,
Dana and Mrs. Belknap are darting on
abreast Of the chase. Keep out there
to the left, some of you!" shouts Dana
"He'n spring up the other side quick az
he sees U.s. Drive him back" And
obedient to the signal Of his waving
hand, two of the leading troopers breast
the slopes to the east. calling half dezer
hounds with them. Darling around q
bend. Bunny's agonized eyes catch sigh
of the hounds and horses on the right
bank, and like flash he whiris, scamp
ers up the opposite slope, and shoots out
on the prairie again just In time to NEE
the hounds and troopers who have an
ticipated the move.
Now he is wild and demoralized
Once more he dives into the ravine ant
sends the dust flying into the very face'
of his pt1rsuers, for now the leading
hounds are 50 close that the foremos
jaws are swapping the air at his every
bound. A quick turn to the right ane
up the slope throws these leaders far
too far-beyond; they sweep around IL
long curve; but. though he has thrown
them off. the hunted, senseless, helples
wretch has forgotten the trailers in th'
rear; they spring across the angle he ha'
made, and are close as the original pur
suers, and much the fresher. Wildly
madly now he twists and turns, first III
one bank, then the other. Far to th'
rear the coming riders see the signs o
his breaking down, .tark the scurryin;
to and fro of horse and hound "Com,
onp they shout. Hes gone now. ant
we can be in at the deathT Mrs. Law
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