were racing near。 The Warhorse put forth all his strength。 He
left the first two far behindwas nearly to the Haven when the
second two came up。
Nothing but dodging could save him now。 His ears were sinking；
his heart was pattering on his ribs； but his spirit was strong。
He flung himself in wildest zigzags。 The Hounds tumbled over each
other。 Again and again they thought they had him。 One of them
snapped off the end of his long black tail； yet he escaped； but
he could not get to the Haven。 The luck was against him。 He was
forced nearer to the Grand Stand。 A thousand ladies were
watching。 The time limit was up。 The second Dogs were suffering；
when Mickey came running； yelling like a
madmanwordsimprecationscrazy sounds：
〃Ye blackguard hoodlums！ Ye dhirty； cowardly bastes！〃 and he
rushed furiously at the Dogs； intent to do them bodily harm。
Officers came running and shouting； and Mickey； shrieking hatred
and defiance； was dragged from the field； reviling Dogs and men
with every horrid； insulting name he could think of or invent。
〃Fair play！ Whayer's yer fair play； ye liars； ye dhirty cheats；
ye bloody cowards！〃 And they drove him from the arena。 The last
he saw of it was the four foaming Dogs feebly dodging after a
weak and worn…out Jack…rabbit； and the judge on his Horse
beckoning to the man with the gun。
The gate closed behind him； and Mickey heard a bang…bang； an
unusual uproar mixed with yelps of Dogs； and he knew that Little
Jack Warhorse had been served with finish No。 4。
All his life he had loved Dogs； but his sense of fair play was
outraged。 He could not get in； nor see in from where he was。 He
raced along the lane to the Haven； where he might get a good
view； and arrived in time to seeLittle Jack Warhorse with his
half…masted ears limp into the Haven； and he realized at once
that the man with the gun had missed； had hit the wrong runner；
for there was the crowd at the Stand watching two men who were
carrying a wounded Greyhound； while a veterinary surgeon was
ministering to another that was panting on the ground。
Mickey looked about； seized a little shipping…box； put it at the
angle of the Haven； carefully drove the tired thing into it；
closed the lid； then； with the box under his arm； he scaled the
fence unseen in the confusion and was gone。
'It didn't matter； he had lost his job anyway。' He tramped away
from the city。 He took the train at the nearest station and
travelled some hours； and now he was in Rabbit country again。 The
sun had long gone down； the night with its stars was over the
plain when among the farms； the Osage and alfalfa； Mickey
Doo opened the box and gently put the Warhorse out。
Grinning as he did so； he said： 〃Shure an' it's ould Oireland
thot's proud to set the thirteen stars at liberty wance moore。〃
For a moment the Little Warhorse gazed in doubt； then took three
or four long leaps and a spy…hop to get his bearings。 Now
spreading his national colors and his honor…marked ears； he
bounded into his hard…won freedom； strong as ever； and melted
into the night of his native plain。
He has been seen many times in Kaskado； and there have been many
Rabbit drives in that region； but he seems to know some means of
baffling them now； for； in all the thousands that have been
trapped and corralled； they have never since seen the
star…spangled ears of Little jack Warhorse。
SNAP
THE STORY OF A BULL…TERRIER
I
It was dusk on Hallowe'en when first I saw him。 Early in the
morning I had received a telegram from my college chum Jack：
〃Lest we forget。 Am sending you a remarkable pup。 Be polite to
him； it's safer。〃 It would have been just like Jack to have sent
an infernal machine or a Skunk rampant and called it a pup； so I
awaited the hamper with curiosity。 When it arrived I saw it was
marked 〃Dangerous；〃 and there came from within a high…pitched
snarl at every slight provocation。 On peering through the wire
netting I saw it was not a baby Tiger but a small white
Bull…terrier。 He snapped at me and at any one or anything that
seemed too abrupt or too near for proper respect； and his
snarling growl was unpleasantly frequent。 Dogs have two growls：
one deep…rumbled； and chesty； that is polite warningthe retort
courteous； the other mouthy and much higher in pitch： this is the
last word before actual onslaught。 The Terrier's growls were all
of the latter kind。 I was a dog…man and thought I knew all about
Dogs； so； dismissing the porter； I got out my all…round
jackknifetoothpicknailhammer…hatchet…toolbox…fire…shovel； a
specialty of our firm； and lifted the netting。 Oh； yes； I knew
all about Dogs。 The little fury had been growling out a
whole…souled growl for every tap of the tool； and when I turned
the box on its side； he made a dash straight for my legs。 Had not
his foot gone through the wire netting and held him； I might have
been hurt； for his heart was evidently in his work； but I stepped
on the table out of reach and tried to reason with him。 I have
always believed in talking to animals。 I maintain that they
gather something of our intention at least； even if they do not
understand our words； but the Dog evidently put me down for a
hypocrite and scorned my approaches。 At first he took his post
under the table and kept up a circular watch for a leg trying to
get down。 I felt sure I could have controlled him with my eye；
but I could not bring it to bear where I was； or rather where he
was； thus I was left a prisoner。 I am a very cool person； I
flatter myself； in fact； I represent a hardware firm； and； in
coolness； we are not excelled by any but perhaps the nosy
gentlemen that sell wearing…apparel。 I got out a cigar and smoked
tailor…style on the table； while my little tyrant below kept
watch for legs。 I got out the telegram and read it： 〃Remarkable
pup。 Be polite to him； it's safer。〃 I think it was my coolness
rather than my politeness that did it； for in half an hour the
growling ceased。 In an hour he no longer jumped at a newspaper
cautiously pushed over the edge to test his humor； possibly the
irritation of the cage was wearing off； and by the time I had lit
my third cigar； he waddled out to the fire and lay down； not
ignoring me； however； I had no reason to complain of that kind of
contempt。 He kept one eye on me； and I kept both eyes； not on
him； but on his stumpy tail。 If that tail should swing sidewise
once I should feel I was winning； but it did not swing。 I got a
book and put in time on that table till my legs were cramped and
the fire burned low。 About 10 P。M。 it was chilly； and at
half…past ten the fire was out。 My Hallowe'en present got up；
yawned and stretched； then walked under my bed； where he found a
fur rug。 By stepping lightly from the table to the dresser； and
then on to the mantel…shelf； I also reached bed； and； very
quietly undressing； got in without provoking any criticism from
my master。 I had not yet fallen asleep when I heard a slight
scrambling and felt 〃thump…thump〃 on the bed； then over my feet
and legs； Snap evidently had found it too cool down below； and
proposed to have the best my house afforded。
He curled up on my feet in such a way that I was very
uncomfortable and tried to readjust matters； but the slightest
wriggle of my toe was enough to make him snap at it so fiercely
that nothing but thick woollen bedclothes saved me from being
maimed for life。
I was an hour moving my feeta hair's…breadth at a timetill
they were so that I could sleep in comfort； and I was awakened
several times during the night by angry snarls from the DogI
suppose because I dared to move a toe without his approval；
though once I believe he did it simply because I was snoring。
In the morning I was ready to get up before Snap was。 You see； I
call him Snap…Ginger…snap in full。 Some Dogs are hard to name；
and some do not seem to need itthey name themselves。
I was ready to rise at seven。 Snap was not ready till eight； so
we rose at eight。 He had little to say to the man who made the
fire。 He allowed me to dress without doing it on the table。 As I
left the room to get breakfast； I remarked：
〃Snap； my friend； some men would whip you into a different way；
but I think I know a better plan。 The doctors nowadays favor the
'no…breakfast cure。' I shall try that。〃
It seemed cruel； but I left him without food all day。 It cost me
something to repaint the door where he scratched it； but at night
he was quite ready to accept a little food at my hands。
In a week we were very good friends。 He would sleep on my bed now
and allow me to move my feet without snapping at them； intent to
do me serious bodily harm。 The no…breakfast cure had worked
wonders； in three months we werewell； simply man and Dog； and
he amply justified the telegram he came with。
He seemed to be without fear。 If a small Dog came near； he would
take not the slightest notice； if a medium…sized Dog； he would
stick his stub of a tail rigidly up in the air； then walk around
him； scratching contemptuously with his hind feet； and looking at
the sky； the distance； the ground； anything but the Dog； and
noting his presence only by frequent high…pitched growls。 If the
stranger did not move on at once； the battle began； and then the
stranger usually moved on very rapidly。 Snap sometimes got
worsted； but no amount of sad experience could ever inspire him
with a grain of caution。 Once； while riding in a cab during the
Dog Show； Snap caught sight of an elephantine St。 Bernard taking
an airing。 Its size aroused such enthusiasm in the Pup's little
breast that he leaped from the cab window to do battle； and broke
his leg。
Evidently fear had been left out of his make…up and its place
supplied with an extra amount of ginger； which was the reason of
his full name。 He differed from all other Dogs I have ever known。
For example； if a boy threw a stone at him； he ran； not away； but
toward the boy； and if the crime was repeated； Snap took the law
into his own hands； thus he was at least respected by all。 Only
myself and the porter at the office seemed to realize his good
points； and we only were admitted to the high honor of personal
friendship； an honor which I appreciated more as months went on；