ad 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
meet--yes--here--oh, 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