170 SPORTING ADVENTURES IN THE FAS WEST. 



ladies ; but in that thinly settled country men and women 

 are too busy to devote much attention to the chase, except 

 for some practical purpose, such as supplying the house 

 with meat, or their pockets with the money procured from 

 the sale of peltries. 



One of the most interesting runs that I ever had after 

 the coyotes netted us six of them ; but when we returned 

 to the house in the evening, both hounds and horses were 

 so badly used up that they were of little use for two or 

 three days thereafter. The master of the hounds an- 

 nounced his intention to a few neighbors of having a grand 

 coyote-hunt one day, and asked them to be participators 

 therein ; and they promptly returned an affirmative answer 

 by coming personally the night before the meet. As there 

 were not accommodations in the house for all, it was de- 

 cided that some should sleep on the hay in the stable, and, 

 with true Western contempt of idle luxuriousness, they all 

 concluded to go there ; and that matter being settled in a 

 minute, the next was to decide at what hour in the morn- 

 ing we should start. Various hours were specified; but 

 the matter was finally determined by a veteran, who was 

 known as "an old settler," and therefore conspicuously 

 important, when he said, with true Western politeness, 

 " Gentlemen, I guess you all know more about coyotes 

 than I do ; but, if you'll take my good-for-nothin' advice, 

 you'll go out as airly in the mornin' as you can, for coyotes 

 are like the men that make money in the States — they stay 

 awake all night a thinkin' how they'll beat other critters, 

 and then they're up the first thing in the mornin' a tryin' 

 to carry out all their nasty plans — I beg your parding, 

 young gals, for sayin' ' nasty,' but that's my opinion o' 

 coyotes; for I think they're only thievin' Injun dogs that 

 can't be civilized. Now, if we get out in the mornin', we'll 

 be sure to take 'em on the hop; and if we do, you'll have 

 peltries enough" (addressing the M. H.) "to make up for 

 the day's loss ; and if we don't see 'em, why, we'll come 

 home airly." The pros and cons of this statement were 

 discussed fully, and it was finally decided that we should 



