Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-01
WESTERN RABBIT COURSING
How Mr.. Jack Leads Merry Squirt Across
the Prairie.
The ExhilrrntiOn of Hunting with
Dogs and Horses I'm a Plain
Comparison Of Speed.
II. s. Canneld in the Chicago Times Herald.

II. s. Garfield in the Chicago Times Herald
1t Is early morning. The air, light and
cool. blows from the east. The prairie is
starred with flowers. Far in the distance
rises O. lonely butte, blue and ominous like
a cloud. A line of trees stands almost
Upon the horizons edge, showing that thei,
roots are washed by shallow stream
that becomes a deadly torrent in the rain
time. The yellow-breasted field lark car.
OILS keenly from the grass. The sparrow
hawk cuts the air with zigzag wing Seven
are in the party-ffve men and two women.
They are well mounted. The orses are the
small, nervous cioseIy built product of the
prairie They do not stride so far as the
hie morse OF the cities but they pick 1t up
iaster-with marveious swiftness. in fact.
Trey are hardy. too. They shall carry you
at top speed until they drop and be moth
Ing the worse for 1t in 4 day or two. They
get little corn, which is heating, but all
lney can eat of the most nutritious grasses
In the world.
the dogs are coupled - sleek graceful
beautiful creatures-and their owner holds
tnen Dy a stout cord which passes around
MS WRIST. Their slender limos are aulyer-
ing and their eyes blaze with excitement
ne greyhound Is PROBABLY the least IN
Sn,.s' OF our canine friends. but ne
Knows when he is wanted for the chase
IL Is his chief dissipation. A hundred and
my yaros anead ana slightly to the right
)ack-rabbit springs from a clump of
weeds. AS ne bounds away in long slow
ieaps at haif-speed be looks not unlike
lawn. HIS tremendous ears point
straight upward. he Is travelling upon
three ieet, holding the other clear of the
GROUND Inc dogs are unleashed ard are Off
iihe " ooit from IA ctossbow. Simultaneous
~ the rabbit leLgthens his slrlde and be-
gins 10 get down to business. With a back
Salu giahce OF his prominent dark eye
hon
OF MS lite is on. The pursuers are tIty
yards away and gong ike the wind when
tIe Wofu IS given anu the reins are loosed
~ nc turf Is spr.nSy anu level as moor.
ne rushing air sings in the ear. One feels
the quick ieaps OF the horse but the eyes
are fastened upon the chase. 1t is all In
pam view. 1t could be seen two miles
away Inc dogs do not give tongue They
run WHOLLY by sight Their chase is as silent
as the grave and as relentless as death
lhey nave put half-mlie behind them and
are warmed to their work. The quarry leads
mem by seventy-five yards They can hear
inc ron OF the twenty-eight hoofs behind.
WIG haiioos come to them, varied by the
shrili call of woman. These girls of the
west are sitting well back, with the knee
nrmiy crooked and the hands low. One of
them mas lost her hat and her tawny hair
streams behind her like flag
Another quarter mile and the jack begins
10 feel that the game is worth his undi-
Vlded attention. His ears come straight
otwn the other leg. He is gong now for all
that there is IL. him, and there is a great
zeal. He iengthens the gap by five yards
ara the chase steadies itself At this rate
ne Is just holding the dogs. The light
weight Oh TIE gray has gripped him hard.
because he Is ten yards behind the dogs and
wants to move up and do some tramping
-Four hundred yards in twenty seconds
ara the pace is telling upon the doomed
ore. His white belly is closer to the ground
ara ne Is desperately striving but he makes
less speed. The hounds are gaining fast.
Ifey are within ten yards Of him-five-
three. Suddenly he whirs at right angles
one or his foemen overruns but the other,
ar older dog. whlrs with him and is hot
after him. Ten more spasmodic leaps,
each shorter than the last, an accurate
be und by the dog pitiful squeak and all
Is over. Well done, MAZDA! The other dog
&C mes up feeling ashamed and wants to
take It out on the corpse. The girl who has
lest her hat drops the reins to twist up the
tawny hair. The other, with flushed face.
Is laughing wildly at very small Joke.
Killed in a mile and quarter The girths
are loosened and the men light cigarettes.
Everybody talks dog and talks at once A
half-doZen chases make the mornings
sport, but there is an appetite for luncheon
in one such ride as that.