668 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



The whole gang of men went after him. They were fifteen in 

 number, and forming a fine across, soon drove him out into 

 the open and narrow part. He raced to the far point, then 

 back a couple of times. They came within 50 or 60 feet of 

 him, and now were nearly shoulder to shoulder, as here the 

 point was only 20 yards wide. Seeing no other escape, the 

 Jack ran to the left of the island, raced straight across to 

 gather speed, then on the right side at the exact waters' edge 

 he leaped with all his power into the river — covering fully 

 20 feet in that jump — and struck out bravely for the shore, 

 100 yards away. He swam very high and fast, splashing with 

 his front-feet, and moving forward with jerks as though jump- 

 ing from his hind-feet, his ears were laid back, and although 

 the river was deep, cold and swift, he crossed about as quickly 

 as a dog would have done, and lost very little through drift- 

 ing. As soon as he got on shore he shook the water from 

 his coat, then sitting up high, he took one look at his foes, and 

 bounded away into the sage. With one impulse the men took 

 off their hats and gave him a cheer as he went. 



When first they saw him on the island Colonel Hawkins 

 supposed the Jack had crossed over when the water was so 

 low that there was a dry road, but, after seeing the way he 

 swam, concluded that he crossed at any time he wished. 



MEN- The Hares are low in the mental scale, and this one is 



low among Hares. It is so swift that it needs but little art to 

 escape its enemies. Cadham says that if it is pursued by one 

 dog, it commonly plays with it, teasing the dog by allowing 

 it to get very near; but that when two dogs are turned loose, 

 the Hare usually decides that present safety is better than 

 posthumous glory, and proceeds to demonstrate that his are 

 the winged heels, and that nothing on four legs can catch him, 

 when he wishes to leave the scene — as at present. When hard 

 pressed, he is known to double back, make a tremendous side 

 jump, then squat. 



An instance of this was told me by Chauncey Thomas, of 

 Denver, Colo. He saw a wounded Jack-rabbit walk along the 



