The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-13

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after long and, as some one remarked.
| "pretty run in spite of the rough ground"
the dog Leo catches the rabbit. whose
ears and left hind foot Pm presented
with as trophies of the chase. l still
feel somewhat sorry for the poor animals,
| but have observed that when the cry is
! given that the dogs are off, my horse
that still consider rather staid and well
behaved shows signs of restlessness,
though have kept him pretty we'll back
waiting to learn more about how to fol-
low the hounds, as | had been given per
mission to do.
The next course is to be byMr. Heintz's
! dog, Comanche Lass, and Frank, the
property of MIR. Dennison
MIR. Heintz, as he surrenders the slips
to Mr.. White of Emporia, says: "Miss
Sharp, you must follow this times" so
with my heart in my mouth. but my
courage keyed up, 1 ride with him up to
the front.
l have not long to ponder over the
probable results of my first ride before
the dogs sight hare and we are off.
The horses seem to understand what is
expected of them and I lind no need of
my riding whip, but our sport is all at
once stopped by a wire fence just as
! Comanche Lass catches the rabbit few
yards beyond
Though very pIeasurably excited by
this time, Pm glad that being in at the
death was not just necessary that time
/ anyway.
Comanche Lass is blanketed and made
much of as are all the dogs, winners and
! losers being taken great care of and
| taken about in carriages to save them
for their turns, as we'll as to keep them
from joining in the pursuit. before their
time comes.
The judge of the meet says: "Rab,
/ bits are little slow" this means that we
are not soaring them up very fast but as
| Thought So and Nelson. who are to run
| off their undecided course, start up one,
| another crosses the path.
I am riding beside Dir. D. c. Luse of
Great Bend, who is judging the races,
| and both our horses without a word from
us seem to almost fly. as the rabbit and
dogs bound away in front of US.
l hear the excited cries of the pursuing
crowd ringing in my ears, the shouts of
the marshal ordering them back, the
loud galloping Of the horses coming be-
hind, my heart palpitates wildly. l feel
my hair coming down; it does come down,
oh dear! but 1 haven't time to STOP
besides l havs lost all my hairpins.
1 see Judge Luse tearing along just in
front, and beyond him the hare with the
dogs gaining so taft that l deem it ad-
visabie to pull up a little in case
the haro turns suddenly, but my horse
| has no intention of stopping even though
we are nearing a ravine which looks
serious to the eye of rider somewhat
| out of practice, and he follows right
along over the ravine and up to where
the rabbit. having tumbled over a piece
of farm machinery, is being despatched
by the dogs.
Ny horse has evidently hunted rabbits
before, for he stops and stands perfectly
still, his nostrils futtering from his exer
ton, and have moment to think that
it is probably as well that we did not go
on in that mad way much longer, else l
might have failed to retain my seat in
the saddle despite the feeling of wild
exhilaration which surges over me as he
gallops over the prairie so recklessly.
The judge is there as 1 coma up, as is
also Miss Tottie Carter, daughter of DR..
w. Fl. Carter. fearless young horsewo-
man of IA who wears bloomers and rides
astride the best horse on the grounds.
Mr.. Lee Cochran of Strong City pre-.
sents me with the rabbits ears, and we
start again, after I have tied up my hair
in some way.
Miss Tottie's sisters, Mrs. Gregory and
Miss Nettie Carter are also on hors eback
and in Difference to our sex we four ladies
are allowed to go where we choose, and
we take advantage of the privilege to
get close to the dogs quite often.
The excitement is so great aud so de-
Iightful that l almost forget to pity the
poor hares. though their death cry il
quite like that of child.
Later l offer truce to my conscience
by listening to the men tell what pests
jack rabbits are.
There are twelve heats to be run and
as the day advances I try to learn some
thing about coursing.
The slipper walks and so do the dogs
before they sight rabbit.
Tie rabbit bounds up and starts off.
jumping on three legs with his ears
straight up in the air till he discovers
that pair of game dogs are after him
instead of the farmers shepherd dogs
with which he has been accustomed to
amuse himself
Then he lays back his ears and leaves
for other parts, still jumping, but looking
like flying speck on the landscape.
The dogs meantime say nothing. but
to- use slang expression, saw wood" sc
well, that during the whole day only two
rabbits escaped.
A greyhound doesn't make auv noise
except when he is close enough to see
hare, which he is not allowed to follow
L1aa be Rhines.