42 Tue Aroostook Woops. 
toward us, much as if for protection, then circled away again, 
and on, beside the swamp. He was the sorriest looking 
specimen of his kind we ever saw, which was owing to his 
long race in the drizzle, as wet as if he had been soaked for 
days, and so thin that he looked the ghost of one, when dry. 
He was taking his best leaps for his life, for close behind 
him came little ‘Mr. Sable,” taking easy, graceful bounds, 
looking as dry and smooth as if just out of his nest, taking 
the race as cool as if he already had him killed, which he 
knew he surely would have, shortly. As the rabbit ran to us 
and shied away again, the sable gained on him by keeping 
straight on, without shortening his leaps as he turned his eye 
on us, and both were soon out of sight. As they both passed 
within easy shooting distance, I remarked, ‘* Why didn’t you 
shoot him?” ‘*Shoot what?” ‘*Why, the sable of course?” 
‘¢Gracious! I didn’t know I had the gun. Oh, wasn’t that 
sable a beauty!” We have all been as interested at some 
time in our lives, and did not think to shoot in time. And 
then a chance like this but seldom offers, as this kind of rabbit 
hounding by the sable is mostly during moonlight nights and 
very early in the mornings. 
You may be sure he had poor bunny nearly tired out, and 
doubtless as soon as they reached thick growth and the 
rabbit tried a side dodge, he was _ out-generaled and 
pounced upon by a few quicker long leaps, when the timid 
victim, with a few pitiful cries would yield up his life at once, 
as they do not show the least ‘fight with this enemy. Like 
the greyhound, he, the sable, runs on sight, keeping handy 
to his prey, but if he misses seeing it for a moment, his nose 
is to the ground, like a foxhound, when he quickly finds the 
track and is again soon in sight, seeming in no great hurry to 
