按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
country not only use their greyhounds after the jack…rabbit； but also
after every other kind of game animal to be found there； the antelope
and coyote being especial favorites。 Many ranchmen soon grew to own
fine packs； coursing being the sport of all sports for the plains。 In
Texas the wild turkey was frequently an object of the chase； and
wherever the locality enabled deer to be followed in the open； as for
instance in the Indian territory； and in many places in the
neighborhood of the large plains rivers； the whitetail was a favorite
quarry； the hunters striving to surprise it in the early morning when
feeding on the prairie。
I have myself generally coursed with scratch packs； including perhaps
a couple of greyhounds； a wire…haired deer…hound； and two or three
long legged mongrels。 However； we generally had at least one very fast
and savage doga strike dogin each pack； and the others were of
assistance in turning the game； sometimes in tiring it； and usually in
helping to finish it at the worry。 With such packs I have had many a
wildly exciting ride over the great grassy plains lying near the
Little Missouri and the Knife and Heart Rivers。 Usually our
proceedings on such a hunt were perfectly simple。 We started on
horseback and when reaching favorable ground beat across it in a long
scattered line of men and dogs。 Anything that we put up； from a fox to
a coyote or a prong…buck； was fair game； and was instantly followed at
full speed。 The animals we most frequently killed were jack…rabbits。
They always gave good runs； though like other game they differed much
individually in speed。 The foxes did not run so well； and whether they
were the little swift； or the big red prairie fox； they were speedily
snapped up if the dogs had a fair showing。 Once our dogs roused a
blacktail buck close up out of the brush coulie where the ground was
moderately smooth； and after a headlong chase of a mile they ran into
him； threw him； and killed him before he could rise。 （His stiff…legged
bounds sent him along at a tremendous pace at first； but he seemed to
tire rather easily。） On two or three occasions we killed whitetail
deer； and several times antelope。 Usually； however； the antelopes
escaped。 The bucks sometimes made a good fight； but generally they
were seized while running； some dogs catching by the throat； others by
the shoulders； and others again by the flank just in front of the
hind…leg。 Wherever the hold was obtained； if the dog made his spring
cleverly； the buck was sure to come down with a crash； and if the
other dogs were anywhere near he was probably killed before he could
rise； although not infrequently the dogs themselves were more or less
scratched in the contests。 Some greyhounds； even of high breeding；
proved absolutely useless from timidity； being afraid to take hold；
but if they got accustomed to the chase； being worked with old dogs；
and had any pluck at all； they proved singularly fearless。 A big
ninety…pound greyhound or Scotch deer…hound is a very formidable
fighting dog； I saw one whip a big mastiff in short order； his
wonderful agility being of more account than his adversary's superior
weight。
The proper way to course； however； is to take the dogs out in a wagon
and drive them thus until the game is seen。 This prevents their being
tired out。 In my own hunting； most of the antelope aroused got away；
the dogs being jaded when the chase began。 But really fine greyhounds；
accustomed to work together and to hunt this species of game； will
usually render a good account of a prong…buck if two or three are
slipped at once； fresh； and within a moderate distance。
Although most Westerners take more kindly to the rifle； now and then
one is found who is a devotee of the hound。 Such a one was an old
Missourian； who may be called Mr。 Cowley； whom I knew when he was
living on a ranch in North Dakota； west of the Missouri。 Mr。 Cowley
was a primitive person； of much nerve； which he showed not only in the
hunting field but in the startling political conventions of the place
and period。 He was quite well off； but he was above the niceties of
personal vanity。 His hunting garb was that in which he also paid his
rare formal callscalls throughout which he always preserved the
gravity of an Indian； though having a disconcerting way of suddenly
tip…toeing across the room to some unfamiliar object； such as a
peacock screen or a vase； feeling it gently with one forefinger； and
returning with noiseless gait to his chair； unmoved； and making no
comment。 On the morning of a hunt he would always appear on a stout
horse； clad in a long linen duster； a huge club in his hand； and his
trousers working half…way up his legs。 He hunted everything on all
possible occasions； and he never under any circumstances shot an
animal that the dogs could kill。 Once when a skunk got into his house；
with the direful stupidity of its perverse kind； he turned the hounds
on it； a manifestation of sporting spirit which roused the ire of even
his long…suffering wife。 As for his dogs； provided they could run and
fight； he cared no more for their looks than for his own； he preferred
the animal to be half greyhound； but the other half could be fox…
hound； colley； or setter； it mattered nothing to him。 They were a
wicked； hardbiting crew for all that； and Mr。 Cowley； in his flapping
linen duster； was a first…class hunter and a good rider。 He went
almost mad with excitement in every chase。 His pack usually hunted
coyote； fox； jack…rabbit； and deer； and I have had more than one good
run with it。
My own experience is too limited to allow me to pass judgment with
certainty as to the relative speed of the different beasts of the
chase； especially as there is so much individual variation。 I consider
the antelope the fleetest of all however； and in this opinion I am
sustained by Col。 Roger D。 Williams； of Lexington； Kentucky； who； more
than any other American； is entitled to speak upon coursing； and
especially upon coursing large game。 Col。 Williams； like a true son of
Kentucky； has bred his own thoroughbred horses and thoroughbred hounds
for many years； and during a series of long hunting trips extending
over nearly a quarter of a century he has tried his pack on almost
every game animal to be found among the foot…hills of the Rockies and
on the great plains。 His dogs； both smooth…haired greyhounds and
rough…coated deer…hounds； have been bred by him for generations with a
special view to the chase of big gamenot merely of hares； they are
large animals； excelling not only in speed but in strength； endurance；
and ferocious courage。 The survivors of his old pack are literally
seamed all over with the scars of innumerable battles。 When several
dogs were together they would stop a bull…elk； and fearlessly assail a
bear or cougar。 This pack scored many a triumph over blacktail；
whitetail； and prong…buck。 For a few hundred yards the deer were very
fast； but in a run of any duration the antelope showed much greater
speed； and gave the dogs far more trouble； although always overtaken
in the end； if a good start had been obtained。 Col。 Williams is a firm
believer in the power of the