l64 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Aug. 31, 1901. 
trailing at his pony's heels, nor were they ever far from 
the sound of his voice, and he blessed the day that he 
had rescued Old Duke, when that good dog had all but 
perished after his chase of the antelope. Harry always 
avoided the Horseshoe ranch when the dogs were with 
Tlim, and, as the hotinds had not as yet begun to attract 
attention by their exploits, Windy Bill Robinson re- 
mained in blissful ignorance of the part Queen had played 
in bringing them into the world. 
One day Harry was on his way home from a visit tcsf ar 
distant part of his ranch, when he had an opportunity to 
initiate the young dogs into the joys and delights of a 
wolf hunt. The full pack was with him, following re- 
spectfully in tlte rear. As he ascended a rise of ground 
he saw a wolf not far ahead limping along on three legs, 
evidently in trouble. The animal discovered him at the 
same in.';tant, and immediately broke into an awkward 
run, unlike the ti.sual swift lope of a coyote when pur- 
sued. In answer to Harry's sharp whistle, Queen and 
Old Dukf sprang forward, followed by their puppies. 
Bounding high in the air, their keen eyes soon detected 
the fleeing form in the distance, and away they went. 
This was new sport for the young dogs, and they joined 
in the chase as though it were some new game planned 
for their special entertainment. Old Duke soon fell be- 
hind the rest, but he had no thought of dropping out 
of the race. Harry had spoken one word to his pony, and 
that was sufficient. J. C. understood the game perfectly 
and needed no urging. 
They gained rapidly on the wolf, and as Harry drew 
near he ascertained the cause of the creature's awkward 
gait. Fastened to his hind foot was a steel trap, and 
from the trap trailed a chain with a good-sized stake at 
the other' end. Queen overtook the wolf first. She 
would never fight at close quarters unless compelled to, 
but a certain duty devolved upon her in every chase 
which she never failed to skillfully perform. As she 
dashed past the wolf, with a lightning-like movement, she 
turned, seized him by the hind leg and threw him end 
over end. Having accomplished this feat, she paused, 
ready to repeat the act if necessaryj but she would not 
attack her desperate foe. The young hotmds circled' 
around the wolf, barking vociferously m their wild ex- 
citement, and waiting for some one to show them what to 
do next. Just then Old Duke arrived on the scene, and 
without a second's hesitation rushed in and sprang upon 
the wolf. There was a brief tussle, and then Old Duke 
found his favorite hold and pinned the struggling wolf 
to the ground. This was enough for the rest of the pack. 
Tige attempted to foUowi out Sharp's instructions re- 
garding the throat hold, and received a cut 2 inches long 
on his brisket as a reward for his temerity. He retreated 
with a howl of pain, but he was the son of Old Duke, and 
his fighting blood was up, so he joined in the fray again. 
Harry merely acted as a spectator, urging on the dogs 
and encouraging them with the sound of his voice. 
When the unequal struggle was at last over, he threw 
the dead wolf across J. C.'s back, called in the dogs and 
rode homeward. He skinned the wolf and boiled the 
carcass in a cauldron and fed the meat to the dogs with 
their regular ration of cornmeal. After that there was 
nothing in the State of Texas, short of a rifle ball, that 
could stop Harrjr Reynolds' pack of hounds when once 
they had sighted a wolf. 
As they gained in experience they adopted certain 
tactics of their own invention. Like a well-drilled com- 
pany of soldiers, each dog knew his place and just what 
Avas expected of him when the game had been sighted and 
the chase had begun. They ran in the form of a flying 
wedge, with Queen at the head and Tige close behind 
her. while the rest of the pack followed in close order, 
with Old Duke or Sharp — the latter sometimes ran with 
the pack — bringing up the rear. Queen was always the 
first to attack, and she never failed to catch the wolf 
by the leg and throw him. That alone was her part 
to play, for before the wolf could recover Tige would 
have him by the throat, and then the other dogs would 
rush in. each one having his OAvn particular hold, and 
the days of that coyote were ended. It all seemed to be 
a prearranged plan with them, and their master never 
ceased to wonder at their almost human intelligence. 
With such a pack of swift-footed hounds to set the 
pace, with "a fleet steed to follow" wherever they might 
lead, and you would hunt far and long to find a better 
one than J. C, with the fresh, bracing air in your nos- 
trils, and the glorious freedom of the broad Western 
plains all around you, what more could a man desire for 
his happiness? If any man were well fitted to appreciate 
and enjoy this life in all its fullness, such a man was 
Harry Reynolds, owner of the Horizontal Bar ranch, a 
brave hunter, a fearless rider and an all-round good 
fellow. 
* * * * * 
Windy Bill Robinson rode away from his ranch one 
morning on a visit to certain portions of the range where 
he had set out a number of wolf traps. The wolves had 
become very troublesome that year, and Windy Bill had 
devoted much time in trying to rid his ranch of their 
presence, but so far his endeavors had met with but poor 
sticcerfs. He exhausted his vocabulary — and his was by 
no means a limited one in some respects, as his name 
would indicate — in anathematizing the wary creatures that 
laughed at his every attempt to ensnare them, but he still 
persisted in his efforts in the hope of hitting upon some 
scheme that would outwit his wily foes. 
He inspected his traps on this particular day with in- 
creased feelings of wrathful disgust. Some of them had 
been sprung, two or three had been ignominously un- 
covered and exposed to Adew, while the rest had been 
carefully avoided. Windy Bill cursed the wolves with 
all the vigor of a cowbo3'''s eloquence, reset the traps in 
different places and started back home. He had just left 
the hollow where the last trap was placed and reached 
the level plain when he pulled up short with an ejaculation 
of surprise. 
Coming at full tilt straight toward him and less than 
100 rods away, was a large coyote, and following fast 
on the trail of the fleeing creature, about the same dis- 
tance behind, Was a pack of hounds running in the form 
of a flying wedge. A single horseman brought up the 
rear of this strange procession. The wolf caught sight 
of his new enemy and swerved off to the right. Windy 
Bill sat spellbound at the thrilling sight, and held his 
breath as the finest pack of hounds it had ever been his 
lot to look upon swept by him like so many gray and yel- 
low streaks of light. He gazed after them in wonder and 
admiration too great for words, until he was brought to 
himself by the sound of a familiar voice calling his name, 
and the next moment a horseman dashed past at break- 
neck speed, waving his hat in tlie air and shouting: 
'•Hi! Yi! Yil Come on. Bill. Great sport!" 
. Windy Bill needed no urging, but with an answering 
yell put spurs to his horse and followed the wild rider, 
whom he recognized as his friend, Harry Reynolds. The 
pace was furious, but Windy Bill never took his -eyes 
from the pack. How splendidly they ran ! And with 
what mighty bounds did they cover the ground I But 
the wolf was fast, too, and this was a race for life and by 
no' means an easy one while it lasted. 
Gradually, however, the hounds closed in on their 
prey. Suddenly the leader of the pack shot ahead with 
incredible speed, and the next moment Windy Bill saw 
the wolf tttrn a somersault in the air,^ and as it landed, 
all in a heap, the second dog had it by the throat. The 
other hounds were not far behind, and the two cam- 
batants Avere concealed front A'iew as they rushed up and 
joined in the fight. Windy Bill pulled up his panting 
horse at the scene of the encounter in time to see Harry 
Reynolds lift the dead body of the wolf and throw it 
across his pony's back. . ■ 
'•Hello! Windy," Harry called out. "Great sport,. 
Avasn't it? That wolf gave us a run for our money. 
What do yoti think of the dogs? Fine lot, eh?" 
"Fine? Fine don't begin to describe it," the other en- 
thusiastically declared. "I never seen anything like 'em 
before. Where the devil did you get hold of 'em?" * 
"Raised 'em. The Scotch stag there is the daddy of 
the pack, and the big greyhound next to him _ is the 
mother. It's all one happy family, you see. This is their 
first season. Just Avait till they haA^e had a little more 
experience and" I'll show you wonders." 
The dogs were all lying doAvn, in the form of a half- 
circle, tired after their long, hard run, but they were 
ready to move at a moment's notice and watched their 
master for the Avord of command. Windy Bill cast his 
eyes enviously over the lithe, shapely forms, and then his 
gaze became concentrated on the taAvny greyhound that 
Reynolds had pointed out as the mother of the pack. 
"Say, Hal, there's somethin' all fired familiar 'bout 
that greyhound there," he asserted. "Seems to me I've 
seen her or her double someAvhere before." 
"Think so? Well, you'A'^e never seen a better one, that's 
certain," Harry answered, in an oflf-hand manner. 
"Seems to me," Windy Bill continued, slowly scratch- 
ing his head, "seems to me she's a heap like my Queen 
what I lost a couple of years ago. Remember her?" 
"Yes, and she does resemble her, now that you men- 
tion it," Harry agreed. "Funny, but her name is Queen, 
too, I must have been thinking of your dog when I 
named her." 
"Did you raise her?" 
"Yes, I 'raised' her all right." 
"Where'd you get her?" 
"I told you. I raised her." 
"Oh. I see. You mean lifted her." 
"I didn't say lifted. Where could I have lifted her 
from ? You're the only man around here ever owned a 
dog like her. If she is your dog she ought to know 
j^ou. Stippose you try her." ' 
Windy Bill snapped his fingers and called the hound by 
name, but Queen kept her eyes on Reynolds' face, not 
even deigning to glance at her former master. She had 
ncA'er liked him, and undoubtedly her instinct warned her 
that here Avas a time to feign ignorance. She knew, bet- 
ter than any one else, how cruelly unjust Windy Bill 
could be Avhen anything displeased him, for he had visited 
his Avrath upon her unoffending head many a time and 
oft, and Queen had the pride of good birth mingled Avith a 
stern sense of justice that never forgave a wrong — traits 
which her children all inherited. Windy Bill at last gave 
up his efforts to attract the hound's attention. 
"My dog had a small, Avhite spot underneath her jaw," 
he informed Reynolds. "Damfi can believe that she ain't 
my Queen, unless I see she ain't got that mark." 
"Go ahead." Harry acquiesced, unconcernedly. 
Windy Bill SAAamg from his saddle and approached the 
silent hound. Queen slowly lowered her head, resting it 
on her forepaAvs, and gazed steadily at him as he ap- 
proached. 
"Come, old girl. Nice dog. Good dog," Windy Bill 
began, and stooped to stroke her head. Queen's upper 
lip curled suspiciously, disclosing a roAV of gleaming 
Avhite fangs, and a low groAvl was her only answer. The 
growl was repeated in the deep A'oice of the huge stag- 
hound lying beside her, and Windy Bill slowly backed 
aAvay. 
"Gosh almighty! They're ugly brutes," he exclaimed, 
as he remounted his horse. "Think you'd be afraid of 
'em." 
"Afraid? I sleep with them. They're my bodyguard 
nearly CA^ery night of the year. By the way, how's that 
bull terrier I gave you getting on?" 
"Fine as silk. I Avouldn't trade him for that uglj' tem- 
pered beast there, even if he can't catch a wolf." 
"So that, after all, if you had discovered that it was 
your Queen you Avouldn't be any the loser, seeing I gave 
you the bull terrier." 
"Well, I don't know. Look Avhat a pack you got. I'd 
trade the terrier for one of the pups there." 
"They wouldn't leave me, and you couldn't keep one 
of them o,n j'our ranch. I'll tell you Avhat I'll do, though. 
I'll giA'e you a pup ottt of the next litter, and j^ou can 
raise him yourself." 
Windjf Bill expressed his thanks, and they Avheeled 
their ponies about and headed for home. But the man- 
ager of the Horseshoe ranch Avas suspicious, and cast 
many scrutinizing glances at the tall greyhound as they 
rode along. When they came to : the parting of their. 
Avaj'-s. he halted, and at last asked in hesitating tones : 
"No' offense, Hal, but, honest Injun, ain't that my 
dog Qtteen?" 
"Suppose I should say it Avas. Avould you feel any 
better?" Reynolds replied, with a slight smile playing 
about his mouth, "What Avould you do. I Avonder ?" 
"Nothin' much, only it might take another one of them 
pups to make me clean forget about it." 
Harry's smile broadened: 
"Oh ! well," said he, "if you Avant another one of the 
pups, I reckon I can spare him, not as a narcotic for 
your active memory, you understand, but simply to oblige 
a friend." 
"Oh ! I understand," Windy Bill has'tened to assure 
him. "I'll be glad to get the pups." 
They said good-by and went > their separate ways, and 
Queen gave vent to her feelings in a joyful bark. 
"Flal's a foxy boy," Windy Bill soliloquized, as he rode 
along, "but I reckon I sorter called his bluff that time. 
Fle'd be a bad man to get in a row with, though. I'll 
bet my shirt that dog is my Queen." He looked back 
just in time to see Reynolds disappear over the next 
rise, followed by his dogs. "There's one thing sure," he 
concluded, with a flowery oath, "Hal Reynolds has cer- 
tainly got the finest pack of hounds in the State of Texas. 
Fayette Durlin, Jr. 
Bring Flowers. 
CH.A.RLEST0WN, N. H., Aug. 22. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: Looking over an old manuscript scrapbook this 
morning, I found some A'erses, written many years ago, 
which I think might please some of your readers, and I 
sent you a copy. 
My father told me when I showed them to him that I 
had "plagiarized" from Mrs. Hemans, but I had not seen 
her poems for many years, and had forgotten them, though 
some strain of them may have lingered, unknown to my 
memory, and my garden has recalled my OAvn to-day. 
Flowers, Bfigfht Flowets* 
Flowers, bright flowers! the smiles of the earth. 
In the footsteps of angels they sure had their birth, 
The charm and delight of the long, summer hours, 
Through all life's changing scenes, bring tis flowers, fresh 
flowers! 
I 
Bring the "trailing arbutus," first Jierald of spring, 
The roses of June and the violets bring. 
Till the gentian's blue 'eye beams mid autumn's cold .showers 
As each bloonis in its. season, bring flowers, fresh flowers! 
Bring flowers, fresh flowers, the babe to bedeck, 
As it twines its soft arms round its mother's fair neck, 
While its deep, searching eyes gaze so fondly in ours. 
Strew the pathway of childhood, with flowers, fresh flower.s. 
Bring flowers, fresh flowers, in wreaths for the bride, 
As she stands at the altar in maidenly pride. 
While her hopes and her fears dwell on life's coming hours. 
Forecast her bright future with garlands of flowers! 
Bring flowers, fresh flowers, to strew on the tomb. 
In their beauty and fragrance, and brightness of bloom. 
Though the spirit has soared Ho unwithering bowers. 
Strew the grave of the mortal with flowers, fresh flowers. 
Bring flowers, fresh flowers, the altar to crown. 
Where the Spirit of Love on his children looks down, 
To the Maker of worlds and the Ruler of powers. 
No incense so fit as his own fragrant flowers! 
I see with regret in the Tribune the death of our 
friend, A. N. Chenej', and it is a great loss to fishcultural 
interests, as Avell as the fall of another old landmark in 
Forest and Stream. I only knew him by his writings 
and by correspondence, but his mother was a native of this 
town, and the descendant of one of the old families, cele- 
brated in Revolutionary times and in the conflict Avith 
New York over the New Llampshire grants, Avhich Row- 
land E. Robinson has chronicled in his "History of Ver- 
mont." The ncAVs makes me sad and — old. 
VON W. 
Odd Nesting Places. 
An Odd Place for a Wren's Nest. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
In May last a pair of Baltimore orioles built a nest of 
the usual shape and size in one of the elm trees in front 
of the house. The nest was suspended from a small, 
drooping branchlet, and Avas rather more symmetrical 
and closely Avoven than usual. In due time the young 
Avere hatched, reared and disappeared. Now, in August 
a pair of house Avrens, Avho haA'e already reared at least 
one brood of young from a nest in one of the veranda 
pillars, have adopted the oriole's nest, and after patching 
it- up a bit \vith twigs and so on (as the bottont of the 
nest seemed a little insecure), the busy little birds have 
almost raised a second, or third, brood. To-day, on Aug. 
22, the young ones are clamoring for food and well 
feathered. The nest hangs and swings in the lightest 
breeze. 
A coincidence occurred yesterday, Avhen the original 
builder of the nest, the male oriole, still in spring dress, 
appeared, and Avhistled from the elm trees as he did in 
the early May days. That he is the same bird is be- 
yond question, for his notes are unusual and unmistakable, 
and in the early summer became almost tiresome. 
Morton Grinnell. 
MiLFORD, Conn. 
Robins' Nest on Cars. 
S,A.YRE, Pa., Aug. i6. — The cosmopolitan nature of the 
robin has often been commented upon, but the following 
seems to bear the distinction of a record breaker. It is 
from the Philadelphia Record: "Passenger coach No. 
4219, -of the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Rail- 
road, has a regular rider every day in a robin that is so 
deeply" engrossed in maternal affairs that she doesn't in the 
least mind the rattle and roar of the train. Underneath 
the car, on a wide beam that supports a . portion of the 
air brake, she has built her nest, and all her energies are 
bent upon hatching some blue eggs. The car remains at 
W^est Chester cA^ery night, comes to Philadelphia in the 
morning, makes a trip to Norristown, returns to Broad 
Street Station, and makes its last run of the day to West 
Chester. The bird must have accomphshed the work of 
