Coyote Hunting on the Plains of Colorado 93 



up for the loss; and it did, for presently Mack caught the 

 coyote by the hind leg and threw him on his back. His own 

 speed, however, was so great that he went on past liis game. 

 The other hounds were too far behind to complete the job as 

 usual. JNIack turned, and before the coyote had recovered his 

 feet and gone a rod, he downed him again. By this time, the 

 pack, cheered on by INIr. Petrie, arrived and took a hand in the 

 game. The unusually long run had told on them so that they 

 -would no more than down their game, then panting for breath, 

 would loosen their hold, when the coyote would get up and go 

 on again. Mr. Petrie cheered on his hounds, the cattleman 

 expressed himself in his usual lucid fashion, first at the coyote, 

 then at the hounds. So the battle went on for a distance of at 

 least forty rods, when httle "Black Lady," already sore and 

 bleeding from several wounds the coyote had inflicted, took 

 him by the throat, and never let go her hold until after the 

 other hounds retired, being satisfied their game was dead. 



"I do believe," said the foreman, "that little black hound 

 would tackle a mountain lion. She is a dead game sport to 

 the end of her tail. She took no chances on that coyote coming 

 to life again like he had been doing every time they thought he 

 had passed in his checks. She's a lone hand, isn't she?" con- 

 tinued the old cattleman in great delight. 



The writer regrets to have to chronicle this rather bungling 

 kill, but he hopes his readers will not take tliis as the rule. 

 Generally the struggle is over in a moment or two when the 

 leading hound is well supported. Where the coyote lands the 

 first time, he goes on his back; there as a rule the battle ends. 

 The wonder is that after the unfortunate circumstance of 

 the morning, the hounds were able to run for a rod, to say 

 nothing of a kill. 



On the way to join the wagon, INIr. Petrie sighted another 

 coyote. He could not resist leading his hounds on again, but 

 they were too tired and foot sore to go on with the chase. Find- 



