The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-09-14

Miss Bunny, who never could get
quite used to his rough way of play
ing.
The only drawback to these moon
light revels was the ever-present
dread of the big, hooting owls who
lived in the tall pines on the hillside.
He liked to remember that day when
an old hound, who had much rather
run rabbit than eat, picked up his
trail down in the open field and gave
him the chase Of his life. AS soon as
he realized the dog was on his track
he made straight for the nearest hill
and went up its steepest part, his
long hind legs enabling him to do
this as easily as he could run on level
ground. His burst of speed left the
dog behind and the deep tones of his
voice were soon lost in the distance.
fut. Just as old long ears, thought
he had last his pursuer the dogs
fiute-like notes would be heard again,
dim and faint. No matter how long
distance he put between himself
and the dog, all he had to do was to
wait long enough to hear his quick
yelps as he followed the trail. AS
the chase heightened his speed grad
ually became slower and slower and
his painting quicker and quicker.
netting had TO be done, and done
right away too, IL he expected to
throw that dog off his track. An
dea struck him! He made for a GER
tain fence corner in the pasture lane,
where he knew another buck rabbit
had his bed, an old rival of his, by
the way. Coming down the lane like
regular cyclone Of ears and flying
feet he hustled the other rabbit out
of his bed, squatted quickly in his
place, and had the satisfaction OF
seeing the hound pass by, hot on the
rail of his unwilling substitute.
a pretty mean trick, this: but.
from buck rabbits point of view
there was nothing unethical about
it. Crouching low with ears laid
back he waited, without motion. un-
til the noise of the chase died away +.
then, hopping up. he struck the back
track as fast as his tired legs would
carry him. He remembered. as If it
was yesterday, how glad he was that
he thought Of this trick to throw the
dog on the trial Of another rabbit.
Everything went well until Just as
he was crossing the pasture, the dirt
flew up in little spurt right in front
OF his nose. AS he leaped into the
air he heard something go-bang!
Still running, he saw out Of the
| corner of his eye a boy peering
through a little cloud Of blue gray
smoke-just then, there was another
spurt Of sand about foot to his left
and another bang! In a long lear
he was in the friendly shelter OF the
alder thicket-badly scared, but un.
harmed, thanks to the overwrought
nerves Of the boy and to the mac.
curacy Of his dollar and a half shot.
gun!
1t was pleasant to remember these
escapedes of his young days; and the
old fellow actually got so he had ra-
ther crouch down in the door of his
burrow and think of the past than
live his rabbit life out as nature In
tended. He grew snappish in his
ways-liked to be alone. If young
buck pranced gaily by, and bantered
him for race he would stamp his
feet on the ground and turn up his
nose, until you could see nothing but
his long yellow front teeth; Instead
Of growing old gracefully, his dis.
| position became worse and worse
and he soon became disliked and
Stunned by all the Bunnys and
Bunnyesses around about.