22 THE! OREGON SPORTSMAN 



ferocious, due to the plentifulness of game; they do not as a rule attack 

 a human being. On account of the constant warfare waged against 

 this wolf by the hunter and trapper, it will not unheedingly expose 

 itself, but it is not a coward by any means. It is brave when occasion 

 demands it; when necessary to gain its point. Instances are of record 

 in these mountains when the wolf has risked and lost its life to save a 

 wounded mate from the assault of either man or beast. 



The hunter and dogs, marching in single file down the mountain 

 slope, arrived on the old government trail, which leads past the door 

 of the hunter's cabin. This deep-trod landmark was constructed by 

 the government while conducting military expeditions in these moun- 

 tains before the country was settled, — in the days of the Eedman. The 

 old trail extended over the mountains through Goulway Gap, the low- 

 est pass in the summits, and- in the time before the advent of the 

 vehicle, it was the only thoroughfare between the distant valleys for 

 the traveler journeying up and down the Pacific Coast. 



The long and tiresome tramp during the day over the hampered 

 path in the snowbound mountains had sharpened the appetite of the 

 hungry hunter. His only subsistence during the day had been his 

 morning meal at dawn, excepting an occasional handful of snow from 

 the pathway to quench his thirst. It was a feeling of relief that the 

 hunter experienced as he stepped into the old familiar highway, and 

 with visions ofi an unobstructed trail to the journey's end and the 

 comforts of the cabin home it impelled him to urge the dogs to quicken 

 their pace. 



Striding down the trail at a point where the timber grew thinner, 

 again the hunter and his companions were disturbed by their pursurers. 

 The deafening howl came from a short distance away — to their right 

 above the trail, in a clump of young firs. At the sound of the alarm 

 the young dogs with a sniff and yelp bounded toward the thicket, 

 dragging old Bruce and casting the hunter down into the snow. 

 "L-o-o-rdy! L-o-o-rdy! " loudly exclaimed the chattering hunter, as he 

 regained his feet and shook the snow from his person. ' ' Git out, you 

 pups!" again screamed the angry hunter, as he swung his arms and 

 staff over his head. "Beat it! Blow!" he commanded the dogs, as he 

 thrust at them with his staff, and with a warning growl from old 

 Bruce the young hounds retreated down the pathway, with the hunter 

 and old Bruce in the rear. 



In a short time the hunter and his companions arrived at a point 

 on the trail where the fir timber grew thicker, the underbrush having 

 disappeared, and again they were abruptly interrupted by the howl of 

 the wolf sounding down the trail, directly in their front. "Dern yer! 

 I'll bet fifteen cents I'll puncture your pesky hide for this," angerly 

 muttered the hunter as he halted, dropping hisj staff in the snow, and 

 by a rapid change ducked over, slipping the strap that supported the 

 gun over his head and shoulders, and the gun was ready for service. 

 Just then the young dogs set up a yelp, again defying the authority of 

 their master by attempting to bolt down the trail. "Lie down, you 

 pups! Dern yer, can't you keep quiet for a moment?" the hunter com- 

 manded and interrogated, as he raised his gun and waved it in a 

 threatening manner over the young dogs. At this old Bruce, with a 

 snarly growl, settled back on his chain, leaning against the hunter's 

 legs, and with distorted bodies, their hair ruffled on their backs 

 crouched down in the snow, sullenly snarling and obeying the command. 

 Lowering his gun to his waist line, the hunter then peered down the 

 trail and viewed their disturber, poised, in the act of repeating his call. 

 Quick as a flash the hunter raised the Winchester, and with a sharp 



