Lobo 23 



possibly have believed. Even the stolid cow- 

 boys noticed it, and said they had " never 

 heard a wolf carry on like that before." He 

 seemed to know exactly what had taken place, 

 for her blood had stained the place of her death. 



Then he took up the trail of the horses and 

 followed it to the ranch-house. Whether in 

 hopes of finding her there, or in quest of re- 

 venge, I know not, but the latter was what 

 he found, for he surprised our unfortunate 

 watchdog outside and tore him to little bits 

 within fifty yards of the door. He evidently 

 came alone this time, for I found but one trail 

 next morning, and he had galloped about in 

 a reckless manner that was very unusual with 

 him. I had half expected this, and had set a 

 number of additional traps about the pasture. 

 Afterward I found that he had indeed fallen 

 into one of these, but such was his strength, 

 he had torn himself loose and cast it aside. 



I believed that he would continue in the 

 neighborhood until he found her body at least, 

 so I concentrated all my energies on this one 

 enterprise of catching him before he left the 

 region, and while yet in this reckless mood. 

 Then I realized what a mistake I had made in 

 killing Blanca, for by using her as a decoy I 

 might have secured him the next night. 



