ALONG FOUR-FOOTED TRAILS 



by the dogs. When the singing-teacher reached 

 the spot he struck the captured rabbit over the 

 head with a stick and then threw the first trophy 

 of the hunt over his shoulder. As he did this 

 a frightened jack sprang up from beside a low 

 bunch of cactus, at the same moment the sing- 

 ing-teacher's horse struck out on a gallop in 

 pursuit, and man and horse once more entered 

 an exciting race for another jack. There were 

 now six jack-rabbits in the race for life. The 

 hunters were scattered over the prairie, and the 

 air was made merry with their shouts and laugh- 

 ter mingled with the barking of the dogs that 

 echoed and reechoed through the ravines and 

 over the hills. The one supreme object of each 

 hunter was to secure the greatest number of 

 rabbits during the day, and, by so doing, gain 

 the honor of leading the first chase on the next 

 hunt. 



As they neared the sage-brush region the 

 rabbits became more numerous. In spite of all 

 the noise, they would often depend upon their 

 protective coloration for safety, until the horses 

 would almost tread upon them. Then over- 

 come by fear they would spring up so close to 

 [74] 



