owboys down here to get the wolves' pelts, for we
always let them have the pelts of any wild beasts that we kill." So they
rode back to the house, and just as Terry and Jack were placing
breakfast on the table Fred dismounted and assisted Evelyn to the
ground. She ran into the house, while Fred went to the stable with the
two horses and sent word around by the stableman to two of the cowboys
to go down and get the pelts of the two wolves and make a search for the
remains of any cow or calf that the wolves had probably killed during
the night.

Before he returned to the house Evelyn had acquainted Terry with the
result of their ride.

"I'm not surprised at it," said Terry. "Before we placed cattle on the
two ranches wolves were rarely seen in this part of the locality. They
come up from the river bottom, some thirty miles away, and I guess we
will have to have a grand wolf hunt pretty soon. Jack's and ours are the
only ranches between here and the river. There are farms, though; but
they don't raise cattle enough to tempt the wolves to leave the swamp,
and they kept their hogs pretty well protected by wire fences. I am
surprised, though, that only two wolves were seen, for generally they go
in gangs for protection. As a general thing they are afraid of the
long-horned cattle, and they rarely attack the grown ones; but they
manage to catch calves quite often, for these long-horned cattle can
toss a wolf high in the air and probably give him his death-wound."

Fred came in and then they sat down to the table, on which was fried
prairie chicken and broiled quail.

"Oh, my! such an appetite as I have," said Evelyn, "and I don't think I
ever sat down to a more appetizing meal in my life."

Her cheeks were like roses, for the brisk ride in the morning air had
flushed them beautifully.

"Terry, just look at those cheeks," said Fred, "did your ever see them
glow more than now?"

"Oh, they'll glow every morning down here if she takes rides before
breakfast."

They all ate heartily. Jack delighted in cooking since the new range had
been put up.

Terry was an expert at broiling quail and any other kind of game, and
they had fresh butter and milk.

"Brother," Evelyn said, during the meal, "last night Fred said that you
would have to go to town to buy a piano. Are you going?"

"Yes, I guess I will."

"Then I want you to take several balls of this butter to several
different ladies in town as presents from me and tell