Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-12-03


ana low degree. reinforced boy a yell
ing pack Of lusty youngsters, armed
with sticks ana stones Joining In
pursuit of that classic quarry the
floet-footcd "Molly Cottontail'
Every hunter, us matter of fact
began his hunting with rabbit for
the cotton tail falls victim TO his
two-logged enemy long before that
hopeful is the proud owner Of a rife,
an air gun or a sugle-barrolcd shot
gun. Every boy that gets a genuine
square deal In this life has dog aud
the greatest dog In the world for amy
boy Is rabbit dog, The term Is u
broad ana general one. Almost any
kind of a dog VIII run a rabbit with
varying degrees of success, depending
on the size of the dog his speed, aud
the nature of the ground in which
the quarry was jumped. What g
more picturesque that field fun Of
happy youngsters lined up Ike a row
of pickcts, AS they scour across the
stubble behind nondoscript bunch Of
CANNES, each looking for the supreme
moment when rabbit shall be
jumped. None of them own "a gun,
the authorities at home having ruled
that guns shall come later on in life,
but what cares the Kid, just so he
gets rabbit meat?
The onward march is not without
results, for presently a wire haired
cur rousts rabbit from his warm
bed at the foot Of some weeds, a
brown form gives leap, a cur gog
gives tongue. the rest of the p,Sk
joins In the animal chorus and then
each boy employs "A pair Of usty
lungs to swell the music, while u
brown flash carrying white tail be
hind. makes for the nearest fence.
Every pair of juvenile eyes, each dog
gish nose and dogg'sh eye follow the
ooitse of that rabbit, ana IT must be
a willy old field mule" that can dart
into shelter from which that crowd
cannot roust him
"Como on, fellars," yolls a loadcr
of the attacking army mes in that
brush pile" Then, one 10y one.
flee, fox terrier, pointer, setter coon
dog. possum dog, hound ana an,
Joined at intervals By a boy all out
of breath, surround that brush pile.
with its frightened inmate. What
chance has that rabbit to get away"
not the slightest Flnnked ON every
side, Molly Cotton tail has but TO wait
for the finish. 1t is coming, swiftly
and surely Every kid craps a piece
of brush and tosscs it aside. Each
dog, sentinel-Hlte, takes a position
about the brush pile. Smaller and
smaller grows the brown and tangled
heap, and nearer and nearer that
rabbit draws toward the final cur
tain, Not much more of the pile is
left. and a youngster mounts II in a
iiffy and begius to Jump up and down
for dear life.
watch out, follers," he yells, In
warning admonitlon. hell be COM
ing out in minute" and tighter
grows the Gordon about the prisoner
Each dog hears and understands
thoroughly the boyish tip, and with
"A new manifestation OF alcrtness,
watches the brush pile.
Here he comes" yeals sharp
eyed lad as the brown form makes
a break for liberty, and the great
chorus of yells and barks and yelps
breaks our afrcsh. The contest is
brief. Confused. the cottontall
knows not whore to turn. lie darts
this vey. only 70 encounter a dog and
a boy He turns yondor. and is con
fronted by others. and that very turn
cost him dear, for in jlffy a cur
dog and a brown form merge into one
flying image. yellow and brown and
white dot mingle In swiftly moving
picture. brown-gray fur floats In the
air. there's squeal of despair a
a chorus of Joyous shouting. that rab-
bit Is snatchod from the jaws of q
cur and proud youngstcr is carry
ing him by the hind legs. That rab-
Il is meat.
Every boy has been "a member of
Just such a chorus in hoyhood's hap
py days. Long before ne was given
his first gun he hunted rabbits with
Zip and the fcllcrs. getting them
from under brush piles. smoking
them out of hole, pulling them
from a hollow log or other places of
fancied security. Rabbits We're tn,
first game he hunted when the proud
est day Of his llfc arrived. and dad
gave me a gun" That day q boyish
heart beat proudcr than "A kings ON
mt