ii2 AN AMERICAN HUNTER 



then fall behind; but that after going eight or ten miles, 

 a coyote in turn became exhausted, and if he had been 

 able to keep his hounds going until that time, they could, 

 with his assistance, then stop the quarry. 



We had been shogging along for an hour or more 

 when we put up a coyote and started after it. I was rid- 

 ing the Big D pony I had ridden the afternoon before. 

 It was a good and stout horse, but one which my weight 

 was certain to distress if I tried to go too fast for too 

 long a time. Moreover, the coyote had a long start, and 

 I made up my mind that he would either get away or 

 give us a hard run. Accordingly, as the cowboys started 

 off at their usual headlong pace, I rode behind at a gal- 

 lop, husbanding my horse. For a mile or so the going 

 was very rough, up over and down stony hills and among 

 washouts. Then we went over gently rolling country 

 for another mile or two, and then came to a long broken 

 incline which swept up to a divide some four miles ahead 

 of us. Lambert had been riding alongside of Abernethy, 

 at the front, but his horse began to play out, and needed 

 to be nursed along, so that he dropped back level with 

 me. By the time I had reached the foot of this incline 

 the punchers, riding at full speed, had shot their bolts, 

 and one by one I passed them, as well as most of the 

 greyhounds. But Abernethy was far ahead, his white 

 horse loping along without showing any signs of distress. 

 Up the long slope I did not dare press my animal, and 

 Abernethy must have been a mile ahead of me when he 

 struck the divide, while where the others were I had no 

 idea, except that they were behind me. When I reached 



