Wolf-Coursing 



sportively with each other, until a pistol shot 

 at long range sent them skimming gracefully 

 over the plains, finally vanishing like a flying 

 shadow in the distance. While crossing the 

 creek below, and within sight of the ranch, we 

 again heard Lead give tongue in the chapar- 

 ral above the ranch, and in a few minutes he 

 had a coyote busy, doubtless the same one we 

 had disturbed in taking a constitutional in the 

 morning. The dogs, now a sorry looking set, 

 had been jogging lazily along behind us, but 

 in a moment were all life and action. Their 

 spirits were contagious, and, though we had 

 positively agreed under no circumstances to 

 run a coyote, we very soon found ourselves 

 flying after the vanishing pack in full pursuit. 

 A pretty race ensued. When first dislodged 

 the coyote appeared lame to such an extent 

 that I thought his leg broken; but after warm- 

 ing up this affection entirely disappeared, and 

 the pace was a hot one for the first mile. The 

 dogs ran well together, and were gradually 

 lessening the gap between them and their 

 wily foe, who, realizing this, displayed tact in 

 selecting the very worst possible ground for 

 footing, and soon regained his lost vantage. 

 It began to look as though the coyote would 



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