WOLF-COURSING 107 



relay of greyhounds to be used in the afternoon, was to 

 join us about midday at an appointed place where there 

 was a pool of water. 



We shuffled along, strung out in an irregular line, 

 across a long flat, in places covered with bright-green 

 wild onions; and then up a gentle slope where the stunted 

 mesquite grew, while the prairie-dogs barked spasmod- 

 ically as we passed their burrows. The low crest, if such 

 it could be called, of the slope was reached only some 

 twenty minutes after we left camp, and hardly had we 

 started down the other side than two coyotes were spied 

 three or four hundred yards in front. Immediately 

 horses and dogs were after them at a headlong, breakneck 

 run, the coyotes edging to the left where the creek bot- 

 tom, with its deep banks and narrow fringes of timber, 

 was about a mile distant. The little wolves knew their 

 danger and ran their very fastest, while the long dogs 

 stretched out after them, gaining steadily. It was evident 

 the chase would be a short one, and there was no need to 

 husband the horses, so every man let his pony go for 

 all there was in him. At such a speed, and especially 

 going down hill, there was not the slightest use in trying 

 to steer clear of the prairie-dog holes; it was best to let 

 the veteran cow-ponies see to that for themselves. They 

 were as eager as their riders, and on we dashed at full 

 speed, curving to the left toward the foot of the slope; 

 we jumped into and out of a couple of broad, shallow 

 washouts, as we tore after the hounds, now nearing their 

 quarry. The rearmost coyote was overtaken just at the 

 edge of the creek; the foremost, which was a few yards 



