predations of the wolves had been
bothering the cow-punchers.

They passed small herds of cattle grazing here and there, attended by
herders, who waved their hands to the trio as they swept past.

As they were entering the foothills Ted's keen eye caught sight of a
slinking form on the rise of a hill running parallel with their path.

He reined in suddenly and looked long at it.

"By Jove, I believe that's our game over there," he said. "Take a look
at it, Bud and Stella. Don't you think that is White Fang?"

"It shore is, er his twin brother," said Bud, to which Stella nodded
acquiescence.

"Take it easy," said Ted. "We'll ride toward him, and when we get as
close as we can without his bolting, put your spurs to it and chase him
for all you're worth. He can run like a scared rabbit."

They rode easily toward the wolf, who looked up at them with a wise,
sidewise twist of his hoary old head, but did not increase his speed
any.

"He's tolling us into the hills where he can easily get lost," said Ted.
"Don't let him do it! Head him off! Turn him back to the prairie."

Diverging, they rode parallel with White Fang again, and, before he
suspected their maneuver, they were ahead of him, and began to close in.

But finally White Fang stopped and watched them for a moment, then
deliberately turned and set off on the back trail at a smart lope along
the ridge he had come.

"I wish we had a couple of Russian wolfhounds here," said Ted, as the
three were breezing along in the trail of White Fang. "That would make
it something like a chase."

"I'm bettin' that ole galoot will give us somethin' ter do before we
ketch up with him, at that," said Bud.

"Close up on him," said Ted. "He's having too good a time."

They let their horses out a notch or two, and closed up on White Fang,
who was off the ridge by this time, and galloping across the prairie.

The old wolf did not seem to have as much steam in him as usual, and
loped along in easy fashion, occasionally looking over his shoulder at
them, apparently gauging the distance and their speed.

"The only way to get close to him is to spurt when he isn't thinking
about it," said Ted. "Let 'em out!"

A prick of the spur sent their horses forward on the leap.

Ted was coiling his rope in his hand ready for a cast, and Stella and
Bud followed his example.

"When we get close enough to throw, scatter out, and be ready to let
your rope go if either of us misses. All re