Wolves and Wolf Nature 



time the dog is kept busy chasing them, but 

 he does not follow them far after dark. 



Not very long ago the coyotes devised a 

 plan for getting rid of this dog. About nine 

 o'clock at night, one of them came up close 

 to the kitchen door and howled. The dog 

 rushed out after it, and the coyote ran away 

 down toward one of the corrals, and around 

 behind the blacksmith's shop into the garden, 

 the dog following after him at the top of his 

 speed. Behind the blacksmith's shop were 

 waiting six or seven other coyotes, which at 

 once attacked the dog and began to worry 

 him. The noise of the fight led Collins to 

 seize his rifle and rush out there, and in the 

 bright moonlight he saw a writhing, snarling 

 mass of animals on the ground. At first he 

 could not shoot for fear of killing the dog, but 

 his shouts caused the coyotes to scatter, and 

 he shot at one, but without result. He was 

 only just in time to save the dog, which was 

 badly cut up. Since that time Shep's interest 

 in coyotes has somewhat abated. He still 

 chases a single one with his old enthusiasm, 

 but if a second appears he gives up the pur- 

 suit and returns to the house. 



The coyote eats to live, and lives to eat, 



185 



