153 S PORTING ADVENTURES 



The dog-s were then sent in, and they soon sent out t\v<> 

 dozen coyotes, it seemed to me, and after them we all 

 dashed right and left. The dogs were yelping, the Indians 

 yelling, and using their bows and arrows, and the whites 

 were shouting and firing their revolvers. The whole scene 

 was one of excitement and wild hurrah, and reminded me of 

 a sharp and close cavalry skirmish. Some of the men were 

 " hieing " on their dogs ; some got thrown by running their 

 horses through the villages of ground squirrels, and got heartily 

 laughed at for their misfortune ; whilst others were shouting 

 at the red men to keep out of the way. It was a scene of fun 

 and confusion, and the confusion was increased by the anti- 

 pathy of the civilized dogs to their more barbarous brethren, 

 and the efforts they made to hunt them instead of the coyotes. 

 The riding and yelling and yelping was fast and furious until 

 four of the fugitives were killed by the Indians and three by 

 our party, and having run by that time about six miles, we 

 concluded to stop for the day, owing to the condition of our 

 horses, and the fact that the coyotes were scared away from the 

 neighbourhood. During the last run the poor creatures were 

 rushing madly through the canine lines in their effort to 

 escape, but wherever they turned they met new foes in large 

 numbers, so that those which got away were compelled to 

 iight bravely for their liberty. We could have killed several 

 more during the day if we wished, for they were scattered 

 all over the country in small groups, but our purpose having 

 been accomplished we returned home, well satisfied with our 

 day's sport. On the way back we called at the small Indian 

 village of mats, and I noticed there that many of the dogs 

 running about were perfect facsimiles of the coyotes in all 

 but colour, and even barked so much like them that it 

 would be hard to distinguish which was which. I learned there 

 also that the coyotes frequently associated with Indian dogs 

 at certain seasons, and that the products were wary, thiev- 

 ing, timid creatures, but often excellent animals for hunting 

 game, and especially their own ancestors. Some of the best 

 dogs in the country for mute hunting arc these mongrels, 

 and if well trained they are said to be invaluable. 



