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saddle and so carried him home。 I cared for him as though he had
been a baby。 He had shown those Cattle…men how to fill the weak
place in their pack； the Foxhounds may be good and the Greyhounds
swift and the Russians and Danes fighters； but they are no use at
all without the crowning moral force of grit； that none can
supply so well as a Bull…terrier。 On that day the Cattlemen
learned how to manage the Wolf question； as you will find if ever
you are at Mendoza； for every successful Wolf pack there has with
it a Bull…terrier； preferably of the Snap…Mendoza breed。
IV
Next day was Hallowe'en； the anniversary of Snap's advent。 The
weather was clear； bright； not too cold； and there was no snow on
the ground。 The men usually celebrated the day with a hunt of
some sort； and now； of course； Wolves were the one object。 To the
disappointment of all； Snap was in bad shape with his wound。 He
slept； as usual； at my feet； and bloody stains now marked the
place。 He was not in condition to fight； but we were bound to
have a Wolf…hunt； so he was beguiled to an outhouse and locked
up； while we went off； I； at least； with a sense of impending
disaster。 I knew we should fail without my Dog； but I did not
realize how bad a failure it was to be。
Afar among the buttes of Skull Creek we had roamed when a white
ball appeared bounding through the sage…brush； and in a minute
more Snap came； growling and stump…waggling； up to my Horse's
side。 I could not send him back； he would take no such orders；
not even from me。 His wound was looking bad； so I called him；
held down the quirt； and jumped him to my saddle。
〃There；〃 I thought； 〃I'll keep you safe till we get home。〃 'Yes；
I thought； but I reckoned not with Snap。 The voice of Hilton；
〃Hu； hu；〃 announced that he had sighted a Wolf。 Dander and Riley；
his rival； both sprang to the point of observation； with the
result that they collided and fell together； sprawling； in the
sage。 But Snap； gazing hard； had sighted the Wolf； not so very
far off； and before I knew it； he leaped from the saddle and
bounded zigzag； high； low； in and under the sage； straight for
the enemy； leading the whole pack for a few minutes。 Not far； of
course。 The great Greyhounds sighted the moving speck； and the
usual procession strung out on the plain。 It promised to be a
fine hunt； for the Wolf had less than half a mile start and all
the Dogs were fully interested。
〃They 'ye turned up Grizzly Gully；〃 cried Garvin。 〃This way； and
we can head them off。〃
So we turned and rode hard around the north side of Hulmer's
Butte； while the chase seemed to go round the south。
We galloped to the top of Cedar Ridge and were about to ride
down； when Hilton shouted； 〃By George； here he is！ We're right
onto him。〃 He leaped from his Horse； dropped the bridle； and ran
forward。 I did the same。 A great Gray…wolf came lumbering across
an open plain toward us。 His head was low； his tail out level；
and fifty yards behind him was Dander； sailing like a Hawk over
the ground； going twice as fast as the Wolf。 In a minute the
Hound was alongside and snapped； but bounded back； as the Wolf
turned on him。 They were just below us now and not fifty feet
away。 Garvin drew his revolver； but in a fateful moment Hilton
interfered： 〃 No； no； let's see it out。〃 In a few seconds the
next Greyhound arrived； then the rest in order of swiftness。 Each
came up full of fight and fury； determined to go right in and
tear the Gray…wolf to pieces； but each in turn swerved aside； and
leaped and barked around at a safe distance。 After a minute or so
the Russians appearedfine big Dogs they were。 Their distant
intention no doubt was to dash right at the old Wolf； but his
fearless front； his sinewy frame and death…dealing jaws； awed
them long before they were near him； and they also joined the
ring； while the desperado in the middle faced this way and that；
ready for any or all。
Now the Danes came up； huge…limbed creatures； any one of them as
heavy as the Wolf。 I heard their heavy breathing tighten into a
threatening sound as they plunged ahead； eager to tear the foe to
pieces； but when they saw him there； grim fearless； mighty of
jaw； tireless of limb； ready to die if need be； but sure of this；
he would not die alonewell； those great Danesall three of
themwere stricken； as the rest had been； with a sudden
bashfulness： Yes； they would go right in presentlynot now； but
as soon as they had got their breath； they were not afraid of a
Wolf； oh； no。 I could read their courage in their voices。 They
knew perfectly well that the first Dog to go in was going to get
hurt； but never mind thatpresently； they would bark a little
more to get up enthusiasm。
And as the ten big Dogs were leaping round the silent Wolf at
bay； there was a rustling in the sage at the far side of place；
then a snow…white rubber ball； it seemed； came bounding； but grew
into a little Bull…terrier； and Snap； slowest of the pack； and
last； came panting hard； so hard he seemed gasping。 Over the
level open he made； straight to the changing ring around the
Cattle…killer whom none dared face。 Did he hesitate？ Not for an
instant； through the ring of the yelping pack； straight for the
old despot of range； right for his throat he sprang； and the
Gray…wolf struck with his twenty scimitars。 But the little one；
if fooled at all； sprang again； and then what came I hardly knew。
There was a whirling mass of Dogs。 I thought I saw the little
White One clinched on the Gray…wolf's nose。 The pack was all
around； we could not help them now。 But they did not need us；
they had a leader of dauntless mettle； and when in a little while
the final scene was done； there on the ground lay the Gray…wolf；
a giant of his kind； and clinched on his nose was the little
white Dog。
We were standing around within fifteen feet； ready to help； but
had no chance till were not needed。
The Wolf was dead； and I hallooed to Snap； but he did not move。
I bent over him。 〃SnapSnap； it's all over； you've killed him。〃
But the Dog was very still； and now I saw two deep wounds in his
body。 I tried to lift him。 〃Let go； old fellow； it's all over。〃
He growled feebly； and at last go of the Wolf。 The rough
cattle…men were kneeling around him now； old Penroof's voice was
trembling as he muttered； 〃I wouldn't had him hurt for twenty
steers。〃 I lifted him in my arms； called to him and stroked his
head。 He snarled a little； a farewell as it proved； for he
licked my hand as he did so； then never snarled again。
That was a sad ride home for me。 There was the skin of a
monstrous Wolf； but no other hint of triumph。 We buried the
fearless one on a butte back of the
Ranch…house。 Penroof； as he stood by； was heard to grumble： 〃By
jingo； that was gritcl'ar grit！ Ye can't raise Cattle without
grit。〃
THE WINNIPEG WOLF
I
It was during the great blizzard of 1882 that I first met the
Winnipeg Wolf。 I had left St。 Paul in the middle of March to
cross the prairies to Winnipeg； expecting to be there in
twenty…four hours； but the Storm King had planned it otherwise
and sent a heavy…laden eastern blast。 The snow came down in a
furious； steady torre