Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-11-21
drawn, girths frightened, and an ex-

1oDAooo. i Nl
drawn, girths frightened, and an ex-
citement Of a corresponding nature ex-
hibited as when the bugle-call Of
"Boots and Saddles rings through the
camp. Doubtless stations overlooking
the Plain had been the scenes of COM
munication to many an exciting hunt
or bloody massacre. These places are
also used as landmarks by the differ
ent tribes, and serve as points between
which to ford the rivers or to direct
parties for the purpose of hunting OF
trapping.
We had been out for some days, and
I had as yet found no opportunity OF
coming into direct contact with one Of
the foxy quadrupeds that nightly treat
ed us to a serenade wherever our camp
chanced to be located. I refer to the
barking-Wof, or coyote { (Caais latraus.)
These animals are too we'll known to
require description, but seem to oc-
cupy an intermediate size between the
wolf and fox, though nearly three times
as large as the latter, infinitely more
ferocious if cornered, and quite as cum
ming: To trap one has generally been
thought by most persons (not profes-
sional hunters) as next to an impossi-
bility. One of these, an ex-colonel of
cavalry, more renowned, by the way,
for heading squadron than for any
knowledge of such matters, considered
the attempt to trap coyote "as great
waste of time;;" others said they would
scent my hands upon the trap and re-
fuse to go neal. it; to all of which
turned deaf ear, for having made
wolf study, felt competent to carry
my point without any side council.
Feling sure the thing could be done
[ took large double-spring Newhouse
trap, such as are used for beaver, and
set it according to my knowledge of
the animals habits, in place which
seemed likely to be frequented by them.
Next morning, upon inspecting it, l
found it entirely undisturbed. I say
entirely, for therein lay my satisfaction.
1t was time enough to repudiate the
experiment when the game, Aagiasq
$ 8 LPaii = ~ :: -:
my ComPurrr0rfs feneWed their obJec-
tions, and recommended a dose of
strychnine as being far less trouble and
vastly more effective. | fastened to
inform them, however, that | consider
ed the practice of poisoning game as
unsportsmanlike, and only resorted to
by those whose brains were inadequate
to the task of circumventing an ami
NAL upon his own ground in any other
way; besides, | wanted a live wolf, that
/ might better study his attitudes, etc.
Next night went through arepetition
of the trap-setting, using for nay bait
the inside and skin of a jack-rabbit
freshly killed; and as a strong breeze
was blowing at the time, it seemed as
though the wolves must scent it from
a long distance, making everything Sc
cure I left the lonely hollow, marking
the place carefully with my eye, re-
turned to camp, and turned in to dream
of trapped wolves in every variety of
posture all through the night. At
one time I fancied [ heard peculiar
howl, but not being certain, dropped
off to sleep again to renew my visions.
When awoke the suns red disc was
just showing in the East, SO following
his example arose also, and walked
off to my trap. When within about
two hundred yards of the spot halted
and surveyed the scene. No sign of
life was visible. The ground stretch
ed in odd shapes under the morning
light all around, but nothing moved.
With a feeling of disappointment I
came nearer, until l thought l over
looked the very ground where the trap
was placed. Still no movement. The
uncertain gray Of morning seemed very
deceptive. Nearer still and | strained
my eyes, taking in each pointin detail;
lat last [ fancied I saw the light wind
stirring something that looked like
hair. Still closer and [ seemed to see
two sharp ears, but so mingled with
debris of various sorts thatI could not
accurately determine their character.
Six more steps towards the mass and
a full-grown coyote rearAd up, and
then fell over with the traps iron jaws
fast above his hook. Approaching to
within few feet [ was taking in his
exact attitude, when he flew toward me
like fend, only missing by a foot,
Il and making the chain rinpas the strain