THE WOLF HUNTERS 



passage to the stable door, so's we can 'tend to the 

 stock; for a blizzard is liable to keep up the howl 

 for several days an' nights; an' during such a spell 

 we won't dare to poke our noses out of the shanty 

 further than to feed the stock. We'll fix Found a 

 comfortable bed in the tent, between the stacks 

 of wolfskins, where he can be of some service as a 

 sentry without being too much exposed, but in 

 case of a very keen spell we'll bring him into the 

 dugout." 



Previous to this time Jack and I had explored 

 the country for a distance of ten or twelve miles 

 in every direction not looking for game particu- 

 larly, for that was always plenty close around 

 camp, but for signs of the presence of Indians. 

 We had discovered, however, no fresh signs- 

 nothing to indicate that Indians had visited this 

 part of the country more recently than a couple 

 of months past. This fact encouraged us, and we 

 hoped that we would be fortunate enough to finish 

 our winter's work undisturbed. Still, Indians 

 were likely to be moving about occasionally, even 

 at this time of the year, and might yet discover 

 our camp, in which case they might make it un- 

 pleasant for us. 



This part of the plains was sometimes ranged 

 over by the Cheyennes, Arapahoes, and other 

 tribes, but had been for some time past the spe- 

 cial range of the Kiowas, who, under the leader- 

 ship of Satank, Satanta, and Big Tree, were ever 



172 



