ised 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
appeared--fine 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
alone--well, those great Danes--all three of them--were stricken, as
the rest had been, with a sudden bashfulness: Yes, they would go right
in presently--not 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 that--presently; they would bark a little
more to get up enthusiasm.

And as the ten big Dogs were leaping round the silent Wolf at