and Sheep； but somehow I felt the common thought of all： 〃Mighty
brave Dogs for a little Coyote； but they could not face the big
Wolf last night。〃
Young Penroof； as though in answer to one of the unput questions；
said：
〃Say； boys； I believe old Billy had a hull bunch of Wolves with
him last night。〃
〃Didn't see but one track；〃 said King gruffly。
In this way the whole of October slipped by； all day hard riding
after doubtful trails； following the Dogs； who either could not
keep the big trail or feared to do so； and again and again we had
news of damage done by the Wolf； sometimes a cowboy would report
it to us； and sometimes we found the carcasses ourselves。 A few
of these we poisoned； though it is considered a very dangerous
thing to do while running Dogs。 The end of the month found us a
weather…beaten； dispirited lot of men； with a worn…out lot of
Horses； and a foot…sore pack； reduced in numbers from ten to
seven。 So far we had killed only one Gray…wolf and three Coyotes；
Badlands Billy had killed at least a dozen Cows and Dogs at fifty
dollars a head。 Some of the boys decided to give it up and go
home； so King took advantage of their going； to send a letter；
asking for re雗forcements including all the spare Dogs at the
ranch。
During the two days' wait we rested our Horses； shot some game；
and prepared for a harder hunt。 Late on the second day the new
Dogs arrivedeight beautiesand raised the working pack to
fifteen。
The weather now turned much cooler； and in the morning； to the
joy of the wolvers； the ground was white with snow。 This surely
meant success。 With cool weather for the Dogs and Horses to run；
with the big Wolf not far away； for he had been heard the night
before； and with tracking snow； so that once found he could not
baffle us；escape for him was impossible。
We were up at dawn； but before we could get away； three men came
riding into camp。 They were the Penroof boys back again。 The
change of weather had changed their minds； they knew that with
snow we might have luck。
〃Remember now；〃 said King； as all were mounting； 〃we don't want
any but Badlands Billy this trip。 Get him an' we kin bust up the
hull combination。 It is a five…and…a…half…inch track。〃
And each measured off on his quirt handle； or on his glove； the
exact five and a half inches that was to be used in testing the
tracks he might find。
Not more than an hour elapsed before we got a signal from the
rider who had gone westward。 One shot： that means 〃attention；〃 a
pause while counting ten； then two shots： that means 〃come on。〃
King gathered the Dogs and rode direct to the distant figure on
the hill。 All hearts beat high with hope； and we were not
disappointed。 Some small Wolf tracks had been found； but here at
last was the big track； nearly six inches long。 Young Penroof
wanted to yell and set out at full gallop。 It was like hunting a
Lion； it was like finding happiness long deferred。 The hunter
knows nothing more inspiring than the clean…cut line of fresh
tracks that is leading to a wonderful animal； he has long been
hunting in vain。 How King's eye gleamed as he gloated over the
sign！
IX
RUN DOWN AT LAST
It was the roughest of all rough riding。 It was a far longer hunt
than we had expected； and was full of little incidents； for that
endless line of marks was a minute history of all that the big
Wolf had done the night before。 Here he had circled at the
telephone box and looked for news； there he had paused to examine
an old skull； here he had shied off and swung cautiously up wind
to examine something that proved to be an old tin can； there at
length he had mounted a low hill and sat down； probably giving
the muster…howl； for two Wolves had come to him from different
directions； and they then had descended to the river flat where
the Cattle would seek shelter during the storm。 Here all three
had visited a Buffalo skull； there they trotted in line； and
yonder they separated； going three different ways； to
meetyeshereoh； what a sight； a fine Cow ripped open； left
dead and uneaten。 Not to their taste； it seems； for see！ within a
mile is another killed by them。 Not six hours ago； they had
feasted。 Here their trails scatter again； but not far； and the
snow tells plainly how each had lain down to sleep。 The Hounds'
manes bristled as they sniffed those places。 King had held the
Dogs well in hand； but now they were greatly excited。 We came to
a hill whereon the Wolves had turned and faced our way； then fled
at full speed；so said the trail；and now it was clear that
they had watched us from that hill； and were not far away。
The pack kept well together； because the Greyhounds； seeing no
quarry； were merely puttering about among the other Dogs； or
running back with the Horses。 We went as fast as we could； for
the Wolves were speeding。 Up mesas and down coulees we rode；
sticking closely to the Dogs； though it was the roughest country
that could be picked。 One gully after another； an hour and
another hour； and still the threefold track went bounding on；
another hour and no change； but interminable climbing； sliding；
struggling； through brush and over boulders； guided by the
far…away yelping of the Dogs。
Now the chase led downward to the low valley of the river； where
there was scarcely any snow。 Jumping and scrambling down hills；
recklessly leaping dangerous gullies and slippery rocks； we felt
that we could not hold out much longer； when on the lowest；
dryest level the pack split； some went up； some went down； and
others straight on。 Oh； how King did swear！ He knew at once what
it meant。 The Wolves had scattered； and so had divided the pack。
Three Dogs after a Wolf would have no chance； four could not kill
him； two would certainly be killed。 And yet this was the first
encouraging sign we had seen； for it meant that the Wolves were
hard pressed。 We spurred ahead to stop the Dogs； to pick for them
the only trail。 But that was not so easy。 Without snow here and
with countless Dog tracks； we were foiled。 All we could do was to
let the Dogs choose； but keep them to a single choice。 Away we
went as before； hoping； yet fearing that we were not on the right
track。 The Dogs ran well； very fast indeed。 This was a bad sign；
King said； but we could not get sight of the track because the
Dogs overran it before we came。
After a two…mile run the chase led upward again in snow country；
the Wolf was sighted； but to our disgust； we were on the track of
the smallest one。
〃I thought so；〃 growled young Penroof。 〃Dogs was altogether too
keen for a serious proposition。 Kind o' surprised it ain't turned
out a Jack…rabbit。〃
Within another mile he had turned to bay in a willow thicket。 We
heard him howl the long…drawn howl for help； and before we could
reach the place King saw the Dogs recoil and scatter。 A minute
later there sped from the far side of the thicket a small
Gray…wolf and a Black One of very much greater size。
〃By golly； if he didn't yell for help； and Billy come back to
help him； that's great！〃 exclaimed the wolver。 And my heart went
out to the brave old Wolf that refused to escape by abandoning
his friend。
The next hour was a hard repetition of the gully riding； but it
was on the highlands where there was snow； and when again the
pack was split； we strained every power and succeeded in keeping
them on the big 〃 five…fifty track；〃 that already was wearing for
me the glamour of romance。
Evidently the Dogs preferred either of the others； but we got
them going at last。 Another half hour's hard work and far ahead；
as I rose to a broad flat plain； I had my first glimpse of the
Big Black Wolf of Sentinel Butte。
〃Hurrah！ Badlands Billy！ Hurrah！ Badlands Billy！〃 I shouted in
salute； and the others took up the cry。
We were on his track at last； thanks to himself。 The Dogs joined
in with a louder baying； the Greyhounds yelped and made straight
for him； and the Horses sniffed and sprang more gamely as they
caught the thrill。 The only silent one was the black…maned Wolf；
and as I marked his size and power； and above all his long and
massive jaws； I knew why the Dogs preferred some other trail。
With head and tail low he was bounding over the snow。 His tongue
was lolling long； plainly he was hard pressed。 The wolvers' hands
flew to their revolvers； though he was three hundred yards ahead；
they were out for blood； not sport。 But an instant later he had
sunk from view in the nearest sheltered ca駉n。
Now which way would he go； up or down the ca駉n？ Up was toward
his mountain； down was better cover。 King and I thought 〃up；〃 so
pressed westward along the ridge。 But the others rode eastward；
watching for a chance to shoot。
Soon we had ridden out of hearing。 We were wrongthe Wolf had
gone down； but we heard no shooting。 The ca駉n was crossable
here； we reached the other side and then turned back at a gallop；
scanning the snow for a trail； the hills for a moving form； or
the wind for a sound of life。
〃Squeak； squeak；〃 went our saddle leathers； 〃puff…puff〃 our
Horses； and their feet 〃ka…ka…lump； ka…ka…lump。〃
X
WHEN BILLY WENT BACK TO HIS MOUNTAIN
We were back opposite to where the Wolf had plunged； but saw no
sign。 We rode at an easy gallop； on eastward； a mile； and still
on； when King gasped out； 〃Look at that！〃 A dark spot was moving
on the snow ahead。 We put on speed。 Another dark spot appeared；
and another； but they were not going fast。 In five minutes we
were near them； to findthree of our own Greyhounds。 They had
lost sight of the game； and with that their interest waned。 Now
they were seeking us。 We saw nothing there of the chase or of the
other hunters。 But hastening to the next ridge we stumbled on the
trail we sought and followed as hard as though in view。 Another
ca駉n came in our path； and as we rode and looked for a place to
cross； a wild din of Hounds came from its brushy depth。 The
clamor grew and passed up the middle。
We raced along the rim； hoping to see the game。 The Dogs appeared
near the farther side； not in a pack； but a long； straggling
line。 In five minutes more they rose to the edge； and ahead of
them was the great Black Wolf。 He was loping as before； head an