But never once are they killed for mere pleasure! Their meat is tender
and most delicious after one has learned to like the "gamey" flavor.
And a change in meat we certainly do need here, for unless we can have
buffalo or antelope now and then, it is beef every day in the
month--not only one month, but every month.
The prairie-dog holes are great obstacles to following hounds on the
plains, for while running so fast it is impossible for a horse to see
the holes in time to avoid them, and if a foot slips down in one it
means a broken leg for the horse and a hard throw for the rider, and
perhaps broken bones also. Following these English greyhounds--which
have such wonderful speed and keenness of sight--after big game on
vast plains, is very different from running after the slow hounds and
foxes in the East, and requires a very much faster horse and quite
superior riding. One has to learn to ride a horse--to get a perfect
balance that makes it a matter of indifference which-way the horse may
jump, at any speed--in fact, one must become a part of one's mount
before these hunts can be attempted.
Chasing wolves and rabbits is not as dangerous, for they cannot begin
to run as fast as antelope. And it is great fun to chase the big
jack-rabbits. They know their own speed perfectly and have great
confidence in it. When the hounds start one he will give one or two
jumps high up in the air to take a look at things, and then he
commences to run with great bounds, with his enormously long ears
straight up like sails on a boat, and almost challenges the dogs to
follow.
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