COUGAR HUNTING IN SONORA 269 



had turned at bay and was fighting desperately 

 his last battle, for the odds were too great against 

 him. I have no doubt had it not been for our 

 timely arrival the hound pack would have been 

 no more. For it would have been five against 

 five, and the great fangs of the wolf would have 

 been more than a match for the hounds, fearless 

 though they were. I could not shoot immediately, 

 as there was danger of hitting the dogs, but as 

 soon as the opportunity afforded I hurled a bullet 

 just back of the wolf's shoulder, and Old Three 

 Legs breathed his last. 



We packed our outfit and for six days traveled 

 in a northeasterly direction. We had spent fifty- 

 five evenings around the campfire and fifty-five 

 days in the open. It was the last day on the 

 trail. The wind was singing a romping song to 

 itself among the tree-tops; and so were we, for 

 no matter how strong the call of the wild, the call 

 of our own is stronger, and we were homeward 

 bound ! 



