186 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



"Dear Doctor: The dogs and I arrived safe, only very 

 sore from long travel. These men are very anxious to see 

 what kind of work these high-priced dogs will do. Last 

 night, that big wolf they wrote you about killed four sheep 

 near the house, and I followed him five or six miles merely 

 to see what he looked like. I saw him. and I want to tell 

 you now that I think my job and your dog-money will be 

 gone whenever I allow the dogs to go near that wolf. But 

 I can't hold these men much longer, so I promised to go 

 after him day after to-morrow." 



Two days later I received the following letter: 

 "Dear Doctor: Last night, or rather just before day- 

 light, we heard the wolf in the sheep-corral, and went out 

 to scare him away. He had already killed one sheep and 

 eaten of it freely. At daylight, myself and three club 

 members took four of ttie dogs (Oscar and Meta being still 

 too sore to work) and started after the big fellow. We fol- 

 lowed him for at least ten miles before we could show him 

 to the dogs. They went to him very quickly, he depending 

 more on his fighting than running qualities. Colonel and 

 Dan reached him first, and struck him with such force that 

 he went down never to get up again. They killed him in a 

 short time, and neither of the dogs got a scratch. The Col- 

 onel took his old hold at the throat, and never let go until 

 I choked him off. Colonel, you know, is just thirty inches 

 high at the shoulder. We stood this wolf up beside Col- 

 onel, and he was one inch taller than the dog. 



"We brought the wolf home, to see what he would weigh, 

 and he tipped the beam at one hundred and seven pounds. 

 To say that the club members were delighted with the dogs 

 is putting it too mild. They were simply crazed. Dan was 

 still sore in his feet, and they carried him home on horse- 

 back. I will now rest the dogs up, and get them in perfect 

 form before I work them again. This country is alive with 

 wolves and other game." 



During the season of 1886, Mr. Porter killed with these 

 dogs one hundred and forty-eight gray wolves and over 



