moment or two the remaining couple of swift hounds arrived on the
scene。 For a moment the wolf and all four dogs galloped along in a
bunch； then one of the greyhounds； watching his chance； pinned the
beast cleverly by the hock and threw him completely over。 The others
jumped on it in an instant； but rising by main strength the wolf shook
himself free； catching one dog by the ear and tearing it half off。
Then he sat down on his haunches and the greyhounds ranged themselves
around him some twenty yards off； forming a ring which forbade his
retreat； though they themselves did not dare touch him。 However the
end was at hand。 In another moment Old Abe and General Grant came
running up at headlong speed and smashed into the wolf like a couple
of battering…rams。 He rose on his hind…legs like a wrestler as they
came at him； the greyhounds also rising and bouncing up and down like
rubber balls。 I could just see the wolf and the first big dog locked
together； as the second one made good his throat…hold。 In another
moment over all three tumbled； while the greyhounds and one or two of
the track…hounds jumped in to take part in the killing。 The big dogs
more than occupied the wolf's attention and took all the punishing；
while in a trice one of the greyhounds； having seized him by the hind…
leg； stretched him out； and the others were biting his undefended
belly。 The snarling and yelling of the worry made a noise so fiendish
that it was fairly bloodcurdling； then it gradually died down； and the
second wolf lay limp on the plains； killed by the dogs； unassisted。
This wolf was rather heavier and decidedly taller than either of the
big dogs； with more sinewy feet and longer fangs。
I have several times seen wolves run down and stopped by greyhounds
after a break…neck gallop and a wildly exciting finish； but this was
the only occasion on which I ever saw the dogs kill a big； full…grown
he…wolf unaided。 Nevertheless various friends of mine own packs that
have performed the feat again and again。 One pack； formerly kept at
Fort Benton； until wolves in that neighborhood became scarce； had
nearly seventy…five to its credit； most of them killed without any
assistance from the hunter； killed moreover by the greyhounds alone；
there being no other dogs with the pack。 These greyhounds were trained
to the throat…hold； and did their own killing in fine style； usually
six or eight were slipped together。 General Miles informs me that he
once had great fun in the Indian Territory hunting wolves with a pack
of greyhounds。 They had with the pack a large stub…tailed mongrel； of
doubtful ancestry but most undoubted fighting capacity。 When the wolf
was started the greyhounds were sure to overtake it in a mile or two；
they would then bring it to a halt and stand around it in a ring until
the fighting dog came up。 The latter promptly tumbled on the wolf；
grabbing him anywhere； and often getting a terrific wound himself at
the same time。 As soon as he had seized the wolf and was rolling over
with him in the grapple the other dogs joined in the fray and
dispatched the quarry without much danger to themselves。
During the last decade many ranchmen in Colorado； Wyoming； and
Montana； have developed packs of greyhounds able to kill a wolf
unassisted。 Greyhounds trained for this purpose always seize by the
throat； and the light dogs used for coursing jack…rabbits are not of
much service； smooth or rough…haired greyhounds and deer…hounds
standing over thirty inches at the shoulder and weighing over ninety
pounds being the only ones that； together with speed； courage； and
endurance； possess the requisite power。
One of the most famous packs in the West was that of the Sun River
Round Club； in Montana； started by the stockmen of Sun River to get
rid of the curse of wolves which infested the neighborhood and worked
very serious damage to the herds and flocks。 The pack was composed of
both greyhounds and deer…hounds； the best being from the kennels of
Colonel Williams and of Mr。 Van Hummel； of Denver； they were handled
by an old plainsman and veteran wolf…hunter named Porter。 In the
season of '86 the astonishing number of 146 wolves were killed with
these dogs。 Ordinarily； as soon as the dogs seized a wolf； and threw
or held it； Porter rushed in and stabbed it with his hunting…knife；
one day； when out with six hounds； he thus killed no less than twelve
out of the fifteen wolves started； though one of the greyhounds was
killed； and all the others were cut and exhausted。 But often the
wolves were killed without his aid。 The first time the two biggest
houndsdeer…hounds or wire…haired greyhoundswere tried； when they
had been at the ranch only three days； they performed such a feat。 A
large wolf had killed and partially eaten a sheep in a corral close to
the ranch house； and Porter started on the trail； and followed him at
a jog…trot nearly ten miles before the hounds sighted him。 Running but
a few rods； he turned viciously to bay； and the two great greyhounds
struck him like stones hurled from a catapult； throwing him as they
fastened on his throat； they held him down and strangled him before he
could rise； two other hounds getting up just in time to help at the
end of the worry。
Ordinarily； however； no two greyhounds or deer…hounds are a match for
a gray wolf； but I have known of several instances in Colorado；
Wyoming； and Montana； in which three strong veterans have killed one。
The feat can only be performed by big dogs of the highest courage； who
all act together； rush in at top speed； and seize by the throat； for
the strength of the quarry is such that otherwise he will shake off
the dogs； and then speedily kill them by rabid snaps with his terribly
armed jaws。 Where possible； half a dozen dogs should be slipped at
once； to minimize the risk of injury to the pack； unless this is done；
and unless the hunter helps the dogs in the worry； accidents will be
frequent； and an occasional wolf will be found able to beat off；
maiming or killing； a lesser number of assailants。 Some hunters prefer
the smooth greyhound； because of its great speed； and others the wire…
coated animal； the rough deer…hound； because of its superior strength；
both； if of the right kind； are dauntless fighters。
Colonel Williams' greyhounds have performed many noble feats in wolf…
hunting。 He spent the winter of 1875 in the Black Hills； which at that
time did not contain a single settler； and fairly swarmed with game。
Wolves were especially numerous and very bold and fierce； so that the
dogs of the party were continually in jeopardy of their lives。 On the
other hand they took an ample vengeance； for many wolves were caught
by the pack。 Whenever possible； the horsemen kept close enough to take
an immediate hand in the fight； if the quarry was a full…grown wolf；
and thus save the dogs from the terrible punishment they were
otherwise certain to receive。 The dogs invariably throttled； rushing
straight at the throat； but the wounds they themselves received were
generally in the flank or belly； in several instances these wounds
resulted fatally。 Once or twice a wolf was caught； and held by two
greyhounds until the horsemen came up but it took at least five dogs
to overcome and slay unaided a big timber wolf。 Several times the feat
was performed by a party of five； consisting of two greyhounds； one
rough…coated deer…hound； and two cross…bloods； and once by a litter
of seven young greyhounds； not yet come to their full strength。
Once or twice the so…called Russian wolf…hounds or silky coated
greyhounds； the 〃borzois；〃 have been imported and tried in wolf…
hunting on the western plains； but hitherto they have not shown
themselves equal； at either running or fighting； to the big American…
bred greyhounds of the type produced by Colonel Williams and certain
others of our best western breeders。 Indeed I have never known any
foreign greyhounds； whether Scotch； English； or from continental
Europe； to perform such feats of courage； endurance； and strength； in
chasing and killing dangerous game； as the homebred greyhounds of
Colonel Williams。
CHAPTER IX。
IN COWBOY LAND。
Out on the frontier； and generally among those who spend their lives
in； or on the borders of； the wilderness； life is reduced to its
elemental conditions。 The passions and emotions of these grim hunters
of the mountains； and wild rough…riders of the plains； are simpler and
stranger than those of people dwelling in more complicated states of
society。 As soon as the communities become settled and begin to grow
with any rapidity； the American instinct for law asserts itself； but
in the earlier stages each individual is obliged to be a law to
himself and to guard his rights with a strong hand。 Of course the
transition periods are full of incongruities。 Men have not yet
adjusted their relations to morality and law with any niceness。 They
hold strongly by certain rude virtues； and on the other hand they
quite fail to recognize even as shortcomings not a few traits that
obtain scant mercy in older communities。 Many of the desperadoes； the
man…killers； and road…agents have good sides to their characters。
Often they are people； who； in certain stages of civilization； do； or
have done； good work； but who； when these stages have passed； find
themselves surrounded by conditions which accentuate their worst
qualities； and make their best qualities useless。 The average
desperado； for instance； has； after all； much the same standard of
morals that the Norman nobles had in the days of the battle of
Hastings； and； ethically and morally； he is decidedly in advance of
the vikings； who were the ancestors of these same noblesand to whom；
by the way； he himself could doubtless trace a portion of his blood。
If the transition from the wild lawlessness of life in the wilderness
or on the border to a higher civilization were stretched out over a
term of centuries； he and his descendants would doubtless accommodate
themselves by degrees to the changing circumstances。 But unfortunately
in the far West the transition takes place with marvellous abruptness；
and at an altogether unheard…