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indifference so far as the Rabbit was concerned； but they have a
deep…rooted hatred of a dog； and when they saw the Yellow Cur
coming bounding toward them； their tails and noses went up； they
sniffed angrily； then closed up ranks； and led by the Cow that
owned the Calf； they charged at the Dog； while Jack took refuge
under a low thorn…bush。 The Dog swerved aside to attack the Calf；
at least the old Cow thought he did； and she followed him so
fiercely that he barely escaped from that field with his life。
It was a good old planone that doubtless came from the days
when Buffalo and Coyote played the parts of Cow and Dog。 Jack
never forgot it； and more than once it saved his life。
In color as well as in power he was a rarity。
Animals are colored in one or other of two general plans： one
that matches them with their surroundings and helps them to
hidethis is called 〃protective〃； the other that makes them very
visible for several purposesthis is called 〃directive。〃
Jack…rabbits are peculiar in being painted both ways。 As they
squat in their form in the gray brush or clods； they are soft
gray on their ears； head； back； and sides； they match the ground
and cannot be seen until close at handthey are protectively
colored。 But the moment it is clear to the Jack that the
approaching foe will find him； he jumps up and dashes away。 He
throws off all disguise now； the gray seems to disappear； he
makes a lightning change； and his ears show snowy white with
black tips； the legs are white； his tail is a black spot in a
blaze of white。 He is a black…and…white Rabbit now。 His coloring
is all directive。 How is it done？ Very simply。 The front side of
the ear is gray； the back； black and white。 The black tail with
its white halo； and the legs； are tucked below。 He is sitting on
them。 The gray mantle is pulled down and enlarged as he sits； but
when he jumps up it shrinks somewhat； all his black…and…white
marks are now shown； and just as his colors formerly whispered；
〃I am a clod；〃 they now shout aloud； 〃I am a Jack…rabbit。〃
Why should he do this？ Why should a timid creature running for
his life thus proclaim to all the world his name instead of
trying to hide？ There must be some good reason。 It must pay； or
the Rabbit would never have done it。
The answer is； if the creature that scared him up was one of his
own kindi。e。； this was a false alarmthen at once； by showing
his national colors； the mistake is made right。 On the other
hand； if it be a Coyote； Fox； or Dog； they see at once； this is a
Jack…rabbit； and know that it would be waste of time for them to
pursue him。 They say in effect； 〃This is a Jack…rabbit； and I
cannot catch a Jack in open race。〃 They give it up； and that； of
course； saves the Jack a great deal of unnecessary running and
worry。 The black…and…white spots are the national uniform and
flag of the Jacks。 In poor specimens they are apt to be dull； but
in the finest specimens they are not only larger； but brighter
than usual； and the Little Warhorse； gray when he sat in his
form； blazed like charcoal and snow； when he flung his defiance
to the Fox and buff Coyote； and danced with little effort before
them； first a black…and…white Jack； then a little white spot； and
last a speck of thistledown； before the distance swallowed him。
Many of the farmers' Dogs had learned the lesson： 〃A grayish
Rabbit you may catch； but a very black…and…white one is
hopeless。〃 They might； indeed； follow for a time； but that was
merely for the fun of a chivvy； and his growing power often led
Warhorse to seek the chase for the sake of a little excitement；
and to take hazards that others less gifted were most careful to
avoid。
Jack； like all other wild animals； had a certain range or country
which was home to him； and outside of this he rarely strayed。 It
was about three miles across； extending easterly from the centre
of the village。 Scattered through this he had a number of
〃forms；〃 or 〃beds〃 as they are locally called。 These were mere
hollows situated under a sheltering bush or bunch of grass；
without lining excepting the accidental grass and in…blown
leaves。 But comfort was not forgotten。 Some of them were for hot
weather； they faced the north； were scarcely sunk； were little
more than shady places。 Some for the cold weather were deep
hollows with southern exposure； and others for the wet were well
roofed with herbage and faced the west。 In one or other of these
he spent the day； and at night he went forth to feed with his
kind； sporting and romping on the moonlight nights like a lot of
puppy Dogs； but careful to be gone by sunrise； and safely tucked
in a bed that was suited to the weather。
The safest ground for the Jacks was among the farms； where not
only Osage hedges； but also the newly arrived barb…wire； made
hurdles and hazards in the path of possible enemies。 But the
finest of the forage is nearer to the village among the
truck…farmsthe finest of forage and the fiercest of dangers。
Some of the dangers of the plains were lacking； but the greater
perils of men； guns； Dogs； and impassable fences are much
increased。 Yet those who knew Warhorse best were not at all
surprised to find that he had made a form in the middle of a
market…gardener's melon…patch。 A score of dangers beset him here；
but there was also a score of unusual delights and a score of
holes in the fence for times when he had to fly； with at least
twoscore of expedients to help him afterward。
III
Newchusen was a typical Western town。 Everywhere in it； were to
be seen strenuous efforts at uglification； crowned with
unmeasured success。 The streets were straight level lanes without
curves or beauty…spots。 The houses were cheap and mean structures
of flimsy boards and tar paper； and not even honest in their
ugliness； for each of them was pretending to be something better
than itself。 One had a false front to make it look like two
stories； another was of imitation brick； a third pretended to be
a marble temple。
But all agreed in being the ugliest things ever used as human
dwellings； and in each could be read the owner's secret
thoughtto stand it for a year or so； then move out somewhere
else。 The only beauties of the place； and those unintentional；
were the long lines of hand…planted shade…trees； uglified as far
as possible with whitewashed trunks and croppy heads； but still
lovable； growing； living things。
The only building in town with a touch of picturesqueness was the
grain elevator。 It was not posing as a Greek temple or a Swiss
chalet； but simply a strong； rough； honest； grain elevator。 At
the end of each street was a vista of the prairie； with its
farm…houses； windmill pumps； and long lines of Osage…orange
hedges。 Here at least was something of interestthe gray…green
hedges； thick； sturdy； and high； were dotted with their golden
mock…oranges； useless fruit； but more welcome here than rain in a
desert； for these balls were things of beauty； and swung on their
long tough boughs they formed with the soft green leaves a
color…chord that pleased the weary eye。
Such a town is a place to get out of； as soon as possible； so
thought the traveller who found h