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spy…hop； as a matter of habit； but low skimming ahead of them all
was a gorgeous black…and…white one； clean…limbed and bright…eyed；
he had attracted attention in the pen； but now in the field he
led the band with easy lope that put him as far ahead of them all
as they were ahead of the rabble of common Dogs。
〃Luk at thot； would yebut ain't he a Little Warhorse？〃 shouted
a villainous…looking Irish stable…boy； and thus he was named。
When halfway across the course the Jacks remembered the Haven；
and all swept toward it and in like a snow…cloud over the drifts。
This was the second lessonto lead straight for the Haven as
soon as driven from the Pen。 In a week all had learned it； and
were ready for the great opening meet of the Coursing Club。
The Little Warhorse was now well known to the grooms and
hangers…on； his colors usually marked him clearly； and his
leadership was in a measure recognized by the long…eared herd
that fled with him。 He figured more or less with the Dogs in the
talk and betting of the men。
〃Wonder if old Dignam is going to enter Minkie this year？〃
〃Faix； an' if he does I bet the Little Warhorse will take the
gimp out av her an' her runnin' mate。〃
〃I'll bet three to one that my old Jen will pick the Warhorse up
before he passes the grand stand；〃 growled a dog…man。
〃An' it's meself will take thot bet in dollars；〃 said Mickey；
〃an'； moore than thot； Oi'll put up a hull month's stuff thot
there ain't a dog in the mate thot kin turrn the Warrhorrse oncet
on the hull coorse。〃
So they wrangled and wagered； but each day； as they put the
Rabbits through their paces； there were more of those who
believed that they had found a wonderful runner in the Warhorse；
one that would give the best Greyhounds something that is rarely
seen； a straight stern chase from Start to Grand Stand and Haven。
VI
The first morning of the meet arrived bright and promising。 The
Grand Stand was filled with a city crowd。 The usual types of a
racecourse appeared in force。 Here and there were to be seen the
dog…grooms leading in leash single Greyhounds or couples；
shrouded in blankets； but showing their sinewy legs； their snaky
necks； their shapely heads with long reptilian jaws； and their
quick； nervous yellow eyeshybrids of natural force and human
ingenuity； the most wonderful running…machines ever made of flesh
and blood。 Their keepers guarded them like jewels； tended them
like babies； and were careful to keep them from picking up odd
eatables； as well as prevent them smelling unusual objects or
being approached by strangers。 Large sums were wagered on these
Dogs； and a cunningly placed tack； a piece of doctored meat； yes；
an artfully compounded smell； has been known to turn a superb
young runner into a lifeless laggard； and to the owner this might
spell ruin。 The Dogs entered in each class are paired off； as
each contest is supposed to be a duel； the winners in the first
series are then paired again。 In each trial； a Jack is driven
from the Starting…pen； close by in one leash are the rival Dogs；
held by the slipper。 As soon as the Hare is well away； the man
has to get the Dogs evenly started and slip them together。 On the
field is the judge； scarlet…coated and well mounted。 He follows
the chase。 The Hare； mindful of his training； speeds across the
open； toward the Haven； in full view of the Grand Stand。 The Dogs
follow the Jack。 As the first one comes near enough to be
dangerous； the Hare balks him by dodging。 Each time the Hare is
turned； scores for the Dog that did it； and a final point is made
by the kill。
Sometimes the kill takes place within one hundred yards of the
startthat means a poor Jack； mostly it happens in front of the
Grand Stand； but on rare occasions it chances that the Jack goes
sailing across the open Park a good half…mile and； by dodging for
time； runs to safety in the Haven。 Four finishes are possible： a
speedy kill； a speedy winning of the Haven； new Dogs to relieve
the first runners； who would suffer heart…collapse in the
terrific strain of their pace； if kept up many minutes in hot
weather； and finally； for Rabbits that by continued dodging defy
and jeopardize the Dogs； and yet do not win the Haven； there is
kept a loaded shotgun。
There is just as much jockeying at a Kaskado coursing as at a
Kaskado horse…race； just as many attempts at fraud； and it is
just as necessary to have the judge and slipper beyond suspicion。
The day before the next meet a man of diamonds saw Irish
Mickeyby chance。 A cigar was all that visibly passed； but it
had a green wrapper that was slipped off before lighting。 Then a
word： 〃If you wuz slipper to…morrow and it so came about that
Dignam's Minkie gets done； wall；it means another cigar。〃
〃Faix； an' if I wuz slipper I could load the dice so Minkie would
flyer score a p'int； but her runnin' mate would have the same bad
luck。〃
〃That so？〃 The diamond man looked interested。 〃All rightfix it
so； it means two cigars。〃
Slipper Slyman had always dealt on the square； had scorned many
approachesthat was well known。 Most believed in him； but there
were some malcontents； and when a man with many gold seals
approached the Steward and formulated charges； serious and
well…backed； they must perforce suspend the slipper pending an
inquiry； and thus Mickey Doo reigned in his stead。
Mickey was poor and not over…scrupulous。 Here was a chance to
make a year's pay in a minute； nothing wrong about it； no harm to
the Dog or the Rabbit either。
One Jack…rabbit is much like another。 Everybody knows that； it
was simply a question of choosing your Jack。
The preliminaries were over。 Fifty Jacks had been run and killed。
Mickey had done his work satisfactorily； a fair slip had been
given to every leash。 He was still in command as slipper。 Now
came the final for the cupthe cup and the large stakes。
VII
There were the slim and elegant Dogs awaiting their turn。 Minkie
and her rival were first。 Everything had been fair so far； and
who can say that what followed was unfair？ Mickey could turn out
which Jack he pleased。
〃Number three！〃 he called to his partner。
Out leaped the Little Warhorse；black and white his great ears；
easy and low his five…foot bounds； gazing wildly at the unwonted
crowd about the Park； he leaped high in one surprising spy…hop。
〃Hrrrrr！〃 shouted the slipper； and his partner rattled a stick on
the fence。 The Warhorse's bounds increased to eight or nine feet。
〃Hrrrrrr！〃 and they were ten or twelve feet。 At thirty yards the
Hounds were slippedan even slip； some thought it could have
been done at twenty yards。
〃Hrrrrrr！ Hrrrrrrr！〃 and the Warhorse was doing fourteen…foot
leaps； not a spy…hop among them。
〃Hrrrrr！ 〃wonderful Dogs！ how they sailed； but drifting ahead of
them； like a white sea…bird or flying scud； was the Warhorse。
Away past the Grand Stand。 And the Dogswere they closing the
gap of start？ Closing！ It was lengthening！ In less time than it
takes to tell it； that black…and…white thistledown had drifted
away through the Haven door；the door so like that good old
hen…hole；and the Grey…hounds pulled up amidst a roar of
derision and cheers f