THE WOLF HUNTERS 



earnestly at Jack and then turned an ear toward 

 our tent door. 



Assured by our snoring that we were all asleep, 

 he reached down and cut the cords that held his 

 ankles, after which he gave another earnest look 

 at Jack, took a step out from the wheel, and no 

 doubt intended to steal quietly out to his horse 

 and mount him; but as soon as he started from 

 the wagon the dog gave an angry growl and sprang 

 the length of his chain toward the escaping jay- 

 hawker. 



Knowing that his flight would now be discov- 

 ered, Tucker quickly darted around the wagon, 

 to get out of the range of Jack's shotgun, with 

 Found lunging on his chain and barking furiously. 



Jack sprang to his feet, calling to the fugitive, 

 "Halt! halt!" as he rushed around the wagon, 

 followed by Tom and me, only to see the form of 

 the jayhawker disappearing rapidly in the dark- 

 ness. Still calling out "Halt! halt!" Jack let off 

 one barrel after another of his shotgun, but high 

 over the head of the retreating ruffian, merely to 

 accelerate his speed. Tucker made no attempt to 

 get his horse and was probably only too glad to 

 get away with a sound carcass. 



After chasing him out on the prairie a little way, 

 calling excitedly to one another to mount and fol- 

 low the fugitive and try to head him off at some 

 point toward the jayhawkers' camp all to im- 

 press Tucker, in case he heard us, of the earnest- 



80 



