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These were among the things he told me as we sat by the fire at
night。 I knew of the early days when any one could trap or poison
Wolves； of the passing of those days； with the passing of the
simple Wolves； of the new race of Wolves with new cunning that
were defying the methods of the ranchmen； and increasing steadily
in numbers。 Now the wolver told me of the various ventures that
Penroof had made with different kinds of Hounds； of Foxhounds too
thin…skinned to fight； of Greyhounds that were useless when the
animal was out of sight； of Danes too heavy for the rough
country； and； last； of the composite pack with some of all kinds；
including at times a Bull…terrier to lead them in the final
fight。
He told of hunts after Coyotes； which usually were successful
because the Coyotes sought the plains； and were easily caught by
the Greyhounds。 He told of killing some small Gray…wolves with
this very pack； usually at the cost of the one that led them； but
above all he dwelt on the wonderful prowess of 〃that thar cussed
old Black Wolf of Sentinel Butte；〃 and related the many attempts
to run him down or corner himan unbroken array of failures。 For
the big Wolf； with exasperating persistence； continued to live on
the finest stock of the Penroof brand； and each year was teaching
more Wolves how to do the same with perfect impunity。
I listened even as gold…hunters listen to stories of treasure
trove； for these were the things of my world。 These things indeed
were uppermost in all our minds； for the Penroof pack was lying
around our camp…fire now。 We were out after Badlands Billy。
VIII
THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT AND THE BIG
TRACK IN THE MORNING
One night late in September after the last streak of light was
gone from the west and the Coyotes had begun their yapping
chorus； a deep； booming sound was heard。 King took out his pipe；
turned his head and said： 〃That's himthat's old Billy。 He's
been watching us all day from some high place； and now when the
guns are useless he's here to have a little fun with us。〃
Two or three Dogs arose； with bristling manes； for they clearly
recognized that this was no Coyote。 They rushed out into the
night； but did not go far； their brawling sounds were suddenly
varied by loud yelps； and they came running back to the shelter
of the fire。 One was so badly cut in the shoulder that he was
useless for the rest of the hunt。 Another was hurt in the
flankit seemed the less serious wound； and yet next morning the
hunters buried that second Dog。
The men were furious。 They vowed speedy vengeance； and at dawn
were off on the trail。 The Coyotes yelped their dawning song； but
they melted into the hills when the light was strong。 The hunters
searched about for the big Wolf's track； hoping that the Hounds
would be able to take it up and find him； but they either could
not or would not。
They found a Coyote； however； and within a few hundred yards they
killed him。 It was a victory； I suppose； for Coyotes kill Calves
and Sheep； but somehow I felt the common thought of all： 〃Mighty
brave Dogs for a little Coyote； but they could not face the big
Wolf last night。〃
Young Penroof； as though in answer to one of the unput questions；
said：
〃Say； boys； I believe old Billy had a hull bunch of Wolves with
him last night。〃
〃Didn't see but one track；〃 said King gruffly。
In this way the whole of October slipped by； all day hard riding
after doubtful trails； following the Dogs； who either could not
keep the big trail or feared to do so； and again and again we had
news of damage done by the Wolf； sometimes a cowboy would report
it to us； and sometimes we found the carcasses ourselves。 A few
of these we poisoned； though it is considered a very dangerous
thing to do while running Dogs。 The end of the month found us a
weather…beaten； dispirited lot of men； with a worn…out lot of
Horses； and a foot…sore pack； reduced in numbers from ten to
seven。 So far we had killed only one Gray…wolf and three Coyotes；
Badlands Billy had killed at least a dozen Cows and Dogs at fifty
dollars a head。 Some of the boys decided to give it up and go
home； so King took advantage of their going； to send a letter；
asking for re雗forcements including all the spare Dogs at the
ranch。
During the two days' wait we rested our Horses； shot some game；
and prepared for a harder hunt。 Late on the second day the new
Dogs arrivedeight beautiesand raised the working pack to
fifteen。
The weather now turned much cooler； and in the morning； to the
joy of the wolvers； the ground was white with snow。 This surely
meant success。 With cool weather for the Dogs and Horses to run；
with the big Wolf not far away； for he had been heard the night
before； and with tracking snow； so that once found he could not
baffle us；escape for him was impossible。
We were up at dawn； but before we could get away； three men came
riding into camp。 They were the Penroof boys back again。 The
change of weather had changed their minds； they knew that with
snow we might have luck。
〃Remember now；〃 said King； as all were mounting； 〃we don't want
any but Badlands Billy this trip。 Get him an' we kin bust up the
hull combination。 It is a five…and…a…half…inch track。〃
And each measured off on his quirt handle； or on his glove； the
exact five and a half inches that was to be used in testing the
tracks he might find。
Not more than an hour elapsed before we got a signal from the
rider who had gone westward。 One shot： that means 〃attention；〃 a
pause while counting ten； then two shots： that means 〃come on。〃
King gathered the Dogs and rode direct to the distant figure on
the hill。 All hearts beat high with hope； and we were not
disappointed。 Some small Wolf tracks had been found； but here at
last was the big track； nearly six inches long。 Young Penroof
wanted to yell and set out at full gallop。 It was like hunting a
Lion； it was like finding happiness long deferred。 The hunter
knows nothing more inspiring than the clean…cut line of fresh
tracks that is leading to a wonderful animal； he has long been
hunting in vain。 How King's eye gleamed as he gloated over the
sign！
IX
RUN DOWN AT LAST
It was the roughest of all rough riding。 It was a far longer hunt
than we had expected； and was full of little incidents； for that
endless line of marks was a minute history of all that the big
Wolf had done the night before。 Here he had circled at the
telephone box and looked for news； there he had paused to examine
an old skull； here he had shied off and swung cautiously up wind
to examine something that proved to be an old tin can； there at
length he had mounted a low hill and sat down； probably giving
the muster…howl； for two Wolves had come to him from different
directions； and they then had descended to the river flat where
the Cattle would seek shelter during the storm。 Here all three
had visited a Buffalo skull； there they trotted in line； and
yonder they separated； going three different ways； to
meetyeshereoh； what a sight； a fine Cow ripped open； left
dead and uneaten。 Not to their taste； it seems； for see！ within a
mile is another killed by them。 Not six hours ago； they had
feasted。 Here their trails scatter again； but not far； and the
snow tells plainly how each had lain down to sleep。 The Hounds'
manes bristled as they sniffed those places。 King had held the
Dogs well in hand； but now they were greatly excited。 We came to
a hill whereon the Wolves had turned and faced our way； then fled
at full speed；so said the trail；and now it was clear that
they had watched us from that hill； and were not far away。
The pack kept well together； because the Greyhounds； seeing no
quarry； were merely puttering about among the other Dogs； or
running back with the Horses。 We went as fast as we could； for
the Wolves were speeding。 Up mesas and down coulees we rode；
sticking closely to the Dogs； though it was the roughest country
that could be picked。 One gully after another； an hour and
another hour； and still the threefold track went bounding on；
another hour and no change； but interminable climbing； sliding；
struggling； through brush and over boulders； guided by the
far…away yelping of the Dogs。
Now the chase led downward to the low valley of the river； where
there was scarcely any snow。 Jumping and scrambling down hills；
recklessly leaping dangerous gullies and slippery rocks； we felt
that we could not hold out much longer； when on the lowest；
dryest level the pack split； some went up； some went down； and
others straight on。 Oh； how King did swear！ He knew at once what
it meant。 The Wolves had scattered； and so had divided the pack。
Three Dogs after a Wolf would have no chance； four could not kill
him； two would certainly be killed。 And yet this was the first
encouraging sign we had seen； for it meant that the Wolves were
hard pressed。 We spurred ahead to stop the Dogs； to pick for them
the only trail。 But that was not so easy。 Without snow here and
with countless Dog tracks； we were foiled。 All we could do was to
let the Dogs choose； but keep them to a single choice。 Away we
went as before； hoping； yet fearing that we were not on the right
track。 The Dogs ran