THE WOLF HUNTERS 



you say. I'm glad to see that you do a little 

 thinking of your own once in a while.'* 



"And I believe I can kill two birds with one 

 stone/' I continued, "by taking some strychnine 

 along and baiting the remains of the yearling 

 after I cut off the hind quarters, and in the morn- 

 ing I'll have a few coyotes to skin to give us a 

 start in business." 



"That's a good idea, too; but don't fool away 

 too much time, for I want you to make that round 

 of the neighborhood before night." 



As I got our package of strychnine out of the 

 wagon, opened it, and took out one of the phials 

 to put in my pocket, Tom suggested: 



"You'd better open that bottle here an' put 

 in a little water to dissolve the crystals; you'll 

 find it's easier to handle in liquid than in crystals, 

 and also more savin'." 



Tom's suggestion was a good one and I did as 

 he advised. Then hanging the hatchet and field- 

 glass to my saddle, I mounted and rode away. 



Crossing the creek just below the beaver dam, 

 where Jack was already looking out locations for 

 his traps, I rode through the timber to look for 

 the most convenient band of buffalo, and espied 

 one that suited my purpose about a mile down 

 the prairie bottom, strung out in single file on the 

 trail, coming in to the creek for water. 



Recrossing the creek so as to keep out of their 

 sight behind the timber, I rode down to a point 



128 



