animal heroes(动物英雄)-第17节
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He told of killing some small Gray…wolves with this very pack； usually at
the cost of the one that led them； but above all he dwelt on the wonderful
prowess of 〃that thar cussed old Black Wolf of Sentinel Butte；〃 and related
the many attempts to run him down or corner himan unbroken array of
failures。 For the big Wolf； with exasperating persistence； continued to live
on the finest stock of the Penroof brand； and each year was teaching more
Wolves how to do the same with perfect impunity。
I listened even as gold…hunters listen to stories of treasure trove； for
these were the things of my world。 These things indeed were uppermost in
all our minds； for the Penroof pack was lying around our camp…fire now。
We were out after Badlands Billy。
VIII
THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT AND THE BIG TRACK IN THE
MORNING
One night late in September after the last streak of light was gone from
the west and the Coyotes had begun their yapping chorus； a deep； booming
sound was heard。 King took out his pipe； turned his head and said： 〃That's
himthat's old Billy。 He's been watching us all day from some high place；
and now when the guns are useless he's here to have a little fun with us。〃
Two or three Dogs arose； with bristling manes； for they clearly
recognized that this was no Coyote。 They rushed out into the night； but did
not go far； their brawling sounds were suddenly varied by loud yelps； and
they came running back to the shelter of the fire。 One was so badly cut in
the shoulder that he was useless for the rest of the hunt。 Another was hurt
in the flankit seemed the less serious wound； and yet next morning the
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hunters buried that second Dog。
The men were furious。 They vowed speedy vengeance； and at dawn
were off on the trail。 The Coyotes yelped their dawning song； but they
melted into the hills when the light was strong。 The hunters searched about
for the big Wolf's track； hoping that the Hounds would be able to take it up
and find him； but they either could not or would not。
They found a Coyote； however； and within a few hundred yards they
killed him。 It was a victory； I suppose； for Coyotes kill Calves 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 arrived
eight 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
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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
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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
