Old Times in the Black Hills 



buffalo-robe, and was soon fast asleep : only 

 to be awakened in a few hours by the nasty 

 yelping of the wretched coyotes. Though 

 there were probably less than a half-dozen of 

 them, it sounded as though the whole canine 

 race was present. I did not dare make a fire 

 large enough to run them off When I had 

 finally come to the conclusion that the best 

 thing I could do was to grin and bear it, the 

 shrill cry of a mountain-lion aroused the dogs 

 and also put to flight the coyotes, and I spent 

 the remainder of the night in comparative 

 peace and quietness. 



Kentuck's cold nose coming in contact with 

 my neck, in his efforts to share my robe, 

 aroused me about daylight ; and, not waiting 

 for an extensive toilet and dainty breakfast, 

 I broke camp and set out for home. Ten 

 o'clock found me crossing Slate Creek, a few 

 miles from the stockade. Lookinof down the 

 creek, I saw a doe feeding at the mouth of 

 a small gulch several hundred yards away, 

 and quickly led "Coffee" and the dogs out 

 of sight, with the intention of stalking her, 

 forgetting at the moment the condition of 

 my rifle. Just then I saw her start, look 

 6* 85 



