118 IN THE OLD WEST 



up by cunning what it wants in physical strength. 

 In bands of from three to thirty they not unfre- 

 quently station themselves along the " runs " of 

 the deer and the antelope, extending their line for 

 many miles ; and the quarry being started, each 

 wolf follows in pursuit until tired, when it relin- 

 quishes the chase to another relay, following 

 slowly after until the animal is fairly run down, 

 when all hurry to the spot and speedily consume 

 the carcass. The cayeute, however, is often made 

 a tool of by his larger brethren, unless, indeed, 

 he acts from motives of spontaneous charity. 

 When a hunter has slaughtered game, and is in 

 the act of butchering it, these little wolves sit 

 patiently at a short distance from the scene of 

 operations, while at a more respectful one the 

 larger wolves (the white or gray) lope hungrily 

 around, licking their chops in hungry expectation. 

 Not unfrequently the hunter throws a piece of 

 meat towards the smaller one, who seizes it im- 

 mediately, and runs off with the morsel in his 

 mouth. Before he gets many yards with his prize, 

 the large wolf pounces with a growl upon him, 

 and the cayeute, dropping the meat, returns to 

 his former position, and will continue his char- 

 itable act as long as the hunter pleases to supply 

 him. 



Wolves are so common on the plains and in the 

 mountains, that the hunter never cares to throw 

 away a charge of ammunition upon them, al- 



