372 BIG- GAME OP NORTH AMERICA. 



them down to our horses, lashed them on our saddles, and 

 returned to camp. 



The next morning I went back over the same ground, to 

 see if there were any more Sheep in sight, and as I neared 

 the top of the same ridge on which I had killed the big 

 ram, I heard strange noises issuing from beyond it; and 

 advancing cautiously to the top, saw a Wildcat and a 

 Coyote engaged in a fight over a shoulder-blade of this 

 same Sheep, which was already pretty well polished. 



I was careful not to disturb them, and taking a reserved 

 seat in the front row, watched the circus till the end of 

 the last act. The varmints seemed well matched in size, 

 strength, and courage, but their tactics varied widely. 

 The Cat, "of course, depended mainly on its claws as weap- 

 ons, while the Coyote's best hold was with his teeth. The 

 Cat was quicker and more elastic in his movements, while 

 the little Wolf was the more deliberate, and the better 

 stayer. The Cat seemed the more -sanguine of the two, 

 the more anxious for the possession of the property in dis- 

 pute, and in greater haste than his antagonist to push the 

 battle to a speedy conclusion. He seemed determined to 

 have the bone, even though he should have to wade through 

 blood and hair a foot deep to get it; and the Canis latrans 

 seemed determined to stay by it as long as he had a piece 

 of skin on him as big as a postage-stamp. 



When I first sighted the contestants, they were in the 

 midst of a sanguinary round, but finished it in a few 

 seconds, and separating, as if by mutual consent, both 

 backed off a few paces and sat down. The Wolf growled, 

 snarled, showed his ivories, and licked his wounds in turn; 

 while the Cat hissed, spit, and caterwauled, much as a 

 domestic cat does when engaged in a family row. 



Finally, the Coyote started for the Cat, and no sooner 

 had he taken a step than the Cat shot into the air, clearing 

 at least ten feet in a single leap, and lit on top of the Coy- 

 ote. Then there was snapping, clawing, snarling, yawling, 

 howling, and shrieking. Teeth and toe-nails contended 

 valorously for the victory; the air was filled with hair, and 



