THE WOLF HUNTERS 



As the wagon party came down the grade from 

 the upland at a brisk trot, it occurred to me that 

 they would all be as hungry as coyotes, and, rush- 

 ing down into the dugout, I began doing what I 

 could to prepare something for them to eat. 



Lieutenant Wilson came galloping on ahead to 

 tell me the results of the fight at his end of the line, 

 not knowing that I had witnessed nearly all of it 

 through the glass. Jack and Tom, he said, were 

 both wounded, but not seriously. They had killed 

 three Kiowas and two ponies before the soldiers 

 arrived, and the latter had killed five more Indians 

 and captured several ponies in the attack at day- 

 light. 



I told the lieutenant what arrangement I 

 had planned for feeding his men — ^which he said 

 would be satisfactory — and also that we had grain 

 enough to give his horses a feed but no hay. 



As the wagon came up I rushed to it to con- 

 gratulate my comrades on their escape and to as- 

 certain the extent of their injuries. 



"Only a few scratches," said Jack indifferently, 

 in spite of his pale looks, as he climbed out of the 

 wagon with his left arm in a sling. "I got an 

 arrow through me arm, but Tom is worse hurted 

 — a bullet through his thigh but no bones broke. 

 Have you anything to eat.^" 



I helped Tom out and supported him on one side 

 as he hobbled down to the dugout. Meantime, 

 the lieutenant and his troopers were taking care 



268 



