224 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



of the feathered tribe, which had, from to time, fallen a 

 prey to their voracious appetite. I therefore determined 

 to destroy the nest, and disperse its inhabitants ; but I 

 had scarcely commenced the work of demolition with my 

 dagger, when old and young flew out and attacked me 

 in every direction, but particularly about my face and 

 eyes ; the latter of which, as a punishment for my teme- 

 rity, they seemed determined to separate from their 

 sockets. 



In the mean time I roared out lustily for assistance, 

 and laid about ine with the dagger. Three men promptly 

 ran up the hill, and called out to me to shut my eyes, 

 and throw myself on the ground, otherwise I should be 

 shortly blinded, promising in the mean time to assist me. 

 I obeyed their directions ; and just as I began to kiss the 

 earth, a bullet from one of their rifles brought down a 

 large hawk, apparently the father of the gang. He fell 

 close to my neck, and in his expiring agonies made a 

 desperate bite at my left ear, which I escaped, and in 

 return gave him the coup de grace, by thrusting about 

 four inches of my dagger down his throat. The death 

 of their chieftain was followed by that of two others, 

 which completely dispersed them ; and we retired after 

 breaking up their den. 



Red foxes and wolves are also in great numbers about 

 the plains ; but their skins are not now purchased by the 

 Company, as the price giveto for them would not defray 

 the expense of their carriage. 



The prairie wolves are much smaller than those which 

 inhabit the woods. They generally travel together in 

 numbers, and a solitary one is seldom met with. Two or 



