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　for　the　Little　Warhorse。　How　Mickey　did
  laugh！　How　Dignam　did　swear！　How　the　newspaper　men　did
  scribblescribblescribble！
  Next　day　there　was　a　paragraph　in　all　the　papers：　〃WONDERFUL　FEAT
  OF　A　JACKRABBIT。　The　Little　Warhorse；　as　he　has　been　styled；
  completely　skunked　two　of　the　most　famous　Dogs　on　the　turf；〃　etc。
  There　was　a　fierce　wrangle　among　the　dog…men。　This　was　a　tie；
  since　neither　had　scored；　and　Minkie　and　her　rival　were　allowed
  to　run　again；　but　that　half…mile　had　been　too　hot；　and　they　had
  no　show　for　the　cup。
  Mickey　met　〃Diamonds〃　next　day；　by　chance。
  〃Have　a　cigar；　Mickey。〃
  〃Oi　will　thot；　sor。　Faix；　thim's　so　foine；　I'd　loike　twothank
  ye；　sor。〃
  VIII
  From　that　time　the　Little　Warhorse　became　the　pride　of　the　Irish
  boy。　Slipper　Slyman　had　been　honorably　reinstated　and　Mickey
  reduced　to　the　rank　of　Jack…starter；　but　that　merely　helped　to
  turn　his　sympathies　from　the　Dogs　to　the　Rabbits；　or　rather　to
  the　Warhorse；　for　of　all　the　five　hundred　that　were　brought　in
  from　the　drive　he　alone　had　won　renown。　There　were　several　that
  crossed　the　Park　to　run　again　another　day；　but　he　alone　had
  crossed　the　course　without　getting　even　a　turn。　Twice　a　week　the
  meets　took　place；　forty　or　fifty　Jacks　were　killed　each　time；　and
  the　five　hundred　in　the　pen　had　been　nearly　all　eaten　of　the
  arena。
  The　Warhorse　had　run　each　day；　and　as　often　had　made　the　Haven。
  Mickey　became　wildly　enthusiastic　about　his　favorite's　powers。　He
  begot　a　positive　affection　for　the　clean…limbed　racer；　and
  stoutly　maintained　against　all　that　it　was　a　positive　honor　to　a
  Dog　to　be　disgraced　by　such　a　Jack。
  It　is　so　seldom　that　a　Rabbit　crosses　the　track　at　all；　that　when
  Jack　did　it　six　times　without　having　to　dodge；　the　papers　took
  note　of　it；　and　after　each　meet　there　appeared　a　notice：　〃The
  Little　Warhorse　crossed　again　today；　　old…timers　say　it　shows　how
  our　Dogs　are　deteriorating。〃
  After　the　sixth　time　the　rabbit…keepers　grew　enthusiastic；　and
  Mickey；　commander…in…chief　of　the　brigade；　became　intemperate　in
  his　admiration。　〃Be　jabers；　he　has　a　right　to　be　torned　loose。　He
  has　won　his　freedom　loike　ivery　Amerikin　done；〃　he　added；　by　way
  of　appeal　to　the　patriotism　of　the　Steward　of　the　race；　who　was；
  of　course；　the　real　owner　of　the　Jacks。
  〃All　right；　Mick；　if　he　gets　across　thirteen　times　you　can　ship
  him　back　to　his　native　land；〃　was　the　reply。
  〃Shure　now；　an'　won't　you　make　it　tin；　sor？〃
  〃No；　no；　I　need　him　to　take　the　conceit　out　of　some　of　the　new
  Dogs　that　are　coming。〃
  〃Thirteen　toimes　and　he　is　free；　sor；　it's　a　bargain。〃
  A　new　lot　of　Rabbits　arrived　about　this　time；　and　one　of　these
  was　colored　much　like　Little　Warhorse。　He　had　no　such　speed；　but
  to　prevent　mistakes　Mickey　caught　his　favorite　by　driving　him
  into　one　of　the　padded　shipping…boxes；　and　proceeded　with　the
  gate…keeper's　punch　to　earmark　him。　The　punch　was　sharp；　a　clear
  star　was　cut　out　of　the　thin　flap；　when　Mickey　exclaimed：　〃Faix；
  an'　Oi'll　punch　for　ivery　toime　ye　cross　the　coorse。〃　So　he　cut
  six　stars　in　a　row。　〃Thayer　now；　Warrhorrse；　shure　it's　a　free
  Rabbit　ye'll　be　when　ye　have　yer　thirteen　stars　like　our　flag　of
  liberty　hed　when　we　got　free。〃
  Within　a　week　the　Warhorse　had　vanquished　the　new　Greyhounds　and
  had　stars　enough　to　go　round　the　right　ear　and　begin　on　the　left。
  In　a　week　more　the　thirteen　runs　were　completed；　six　stars　in　the
  left　ear　and　seven　in　the　right；　and　the　newspapers　had　new
  material。
  〃Whoop！〃　How　Mickey　hoorayed！　〃An'　it's　a　free　Jack　ye　are；
  Warrhorrse！　Thirteen　always　wuz　a　lucky　number。　I　never　knowed　it
  to　fail。〃
  IX
  〃Yes；　I　know　I　did；〃　said　the　Steward。　〃But　I　want　to　give　him
  one　more　run。　I　have　a　bet　on　him　against　a　new　Dog　here。　It
  won't　hurt　him　now；　he　can　do　it。　Oh；　well。　Here　now；　Mickey；
  don't　you　get　sassy。　One　run　more　this　afternoon。　The　Dogs　run
  two　or　three　times　a　day；　why　not　the　Jack？〃
  〃They're　not　shtakin'　thayre　loives；　sor。〃
  〃Oh；　you　get　out。〃
  Many　more　Rabbits　had　been　added　to　the　pen；big　and　small；
  peaceful　and　warlike；and　one　big