THE COYOTE. 
37 
“ Oh,” he replied, arching his eyebrows, 
“ pretty much anywhere where they are ! I saw 
one the other night when I was out for the cows, 
over toward the Coal-banks a ways. You just 
take your gun, most any time, and creep around 
the point of that bluff off there, and it’s ten to 
one you’ll see one.” 
Mrs. Maxwell did not fail to try this experiment, 
but several trips were made without the prophe- 
sied success. At length one day, while riding 
across the country, one was discovered. Mrs. 
Maxwell, gun in hand, was on the ground in a 
moment. 
The coyote was running leisurely along, his 
handsome, bushy tail just curved enough to avoid 
touching the ground, his ears erect, his head and 
nose down, as though tracking his way by smell 
toward some point or object. He was at some 
distance from the road and had not perceived her. 
Stealthily but rapidly she approached him ; but 
suddenly, as though impressed with a sense of 
unexpected danger, he paused, with foot sus- 
pended, raised his head and looked with keen 
eyes about him. It was Mrs. Maxwell’s oppor- 
tunity ; a sharp click, a ringing report, and she 
was in possession of the means to supply the 
deficiency that had called forth her young friend’s 
criticism. 
When he was mounted her great desire became 
