188 STORTING ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST. 



in the hunt if there was no objection. He was positively 

 informed that they would be welcome; and being re-en- 

 forced by about twenty braves and an army of their curs, 

 we resumed our sport. Jim said he knew where there 

 were several coyotes, and, under his guidance, we went to 

 seek them. 



A ride of two miles brought us to a deeply buried dell 

 that was surrounded by huge basaltic bowlders, and in 

 which hares seemed to be unusually numerous. Dividing 

 our forces there, the red men occupied one position and 

 the whites another. The dogs were then sent in, and they 

 soon sent out two dozen coyotes, it seemed to me, and after 

 them we all dashed right and left. The dogs were yelping, 

 the Indians yelling, and using their bows and arrows, and 

 the whites were shouting and firing their revolvers. The 

 whole scene was one of excitement ' and wild hurrah, and 

 reminded me of a sharp and close cavalry skirmish. Some 

 of the men were " hieing " on their dogs ; some got thrown 

 by running their horses through the villages of ground- 

 squirrels, and got heartily laughed at for their misfortune ; 

 while others were shouting at the red men to keep out of 

 the way. It was a scene of fun and confusion, and the con- 

 fusion was increased by the antipathy of the civilized dogs 

 to their more barbarous brethren, and the efforts they 

 made to hunt them instead of the coyotes. The riding 

 and yelling and yelping was fast and furious, until four of 

 the fugitives were killed by the Indians and three by our 

 party; and having run by that time about six miles, we 

 concluded to stop for the day, owing to the condition of 

 our horses, and the fact that the coyotes were scared away 

 from the neighborhood. During the last run the poor 

 creatures were rushing madly through the canine lines in 

 their effort to escape ; but wherever they turned they met 

 new foes in large numbers, so that those which got away 

 were compelled to fight bravely for their liberty. We 

 could have killed several more during the day if we wish- 

 ed, for they were scattered all over the country in small 

 groups; but, our purpose having been accomplished, we 



