THE WOLF HUNTERS 



I had watched first Found and then the Kiowas 

 through the glass until the dog had proceeded so 

 far that he had passed out of sight on the upland, 

 still running; and the Indians could only be seen 

 at intervals; but I could not tell which was nearer 

 the wagon. The Indians were approaching it 

 from the right and rear, while Found would be 

 coming from nearly behind. Tom and Jack, I 

 knew, would be sitting on the seat in the wagon, 

 under cover of the sheet, unsuspicious of danger; 

 the rattling of the wagon would drown any noise 

 of the galloping Indians; and their first intima- 

 tion of the presence of the Kiowas unless Found 

 reached them in time would be a volley of 

 bullets and arrows as the redskins surrounded 

 them. 



I focussed my glass steadily on the white wagon 

 cover, knowing that the halting or turning of the 

 team would indicate that my messenger or the 

 pursuers had reached them. If Found got there 

 first the team would stop; Tom and Jack would 

 discover the Indians and then quickly jump out, 

 unhook the mules and tie them to the wheels of 

 the wagon; and then I would hear the reports of 

 their rifles first. If the Indians got there first and 

 surprised my comrades I would probably hear 

 the reports of the Kiowas* rifles before the wagon 

 stopped, and the frightened mules would then 

 start on a run. 



Riveting my gaze on the wagon, I was presently 

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