Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-10-18
CHASED BY COYOTES.

seen or neafd OF coyotes. therefore II
will be unnecessary for me to give mi
mute description of the animal.
As a general thing they resemble the
dog ; are, however. smaller than cem-
mon sized cur, and have long, pointed
nose they are inveterate towards and
very rarely attack men, unless hard
pressed by hunger.
Many u wearied miner has had his
slumbers ruthlessly broken by the un.
earthly howlings of eeyotes and in his
extreme indignation has seized his gun
with the intention of putting M end TO
some of his tormentors, but sailed out
only to see the whole pack scamper off.
However cowarGly coyotes may usual
ly be, 1, for one, have just cause for bit
ter hatred for the animals, as once had
an adventure with them that came near
costing me my lite.
In the Winter of '5S l was residing in
one of our mountain towns. and often by
way of recreation, would take my gun
and go to a small stream, called Dry
Creek, about three miles from the town,
in pursuit of ducks-which article of
game was very plenty there.
One afternoon I.took my fowling-piece
ar d sought my usual haunt for ducks.
was very fortunate, and before night
fall had bagged mora than l had antici-
pated consequence was ran out of
powder. Inwardly upraiding myself
for not bringing more stared for home;
by this time it was probably Tn hour af-
ter sunset.
1t was glorious night the stars were
out in all their brilliant magnifcence !;
the moon scared high in the unclouded
| sky, affording me sufficient light to travel
with ease.
l was charmed with the beauty of the
evening, and was walking at slow pace
-humming snatches Of tunes had often
heard from the lips of loved ones when
suddenly heard the familiar howl OF u
coyote.
"Ah you cowardly beast" mental.
ly CALCULATED, "were you only within
gun-shot, and had my never failing
Old Tom Chat was the name always
called my gum loaded. l would send you
into the middle of next week, making II
different noise from that."
AS l proceeded further, the howlings
increased, and occasionally coyote
more bold than the rest would venture out
ofthe thicket, take good look at me
and disappear.
Suppos they shou'd d attack me
now," thought |, there in this desolate
and lonesome place, with no powder TO
use in my defense" Pooh l laughed
at the idea. What. coyotes attack n
man Those skulking devils, that throw,
ing Il stone at would drive away, ha ! ha!
AS proceeded farther toward home,
the howlings became more numerous,
and gangs of two and three would cross
my path at distance of probably one
hundred feet, and scamper off on my
throwing a stone at them.
"
from where had been hunting, when
/ noticed that the coyotes began to
throw OF their timidity, and would ap.
proach quite near me. "Getting tame"
thought l undoubtedly know / am
out Of powder, and think to impress me
with the idea that you are courage
Gus set Of hounds. Oh you can't come
that game" and l threw a stone nj a
large, long-nosed fellow, which struck
him on the heac, and had tendency to
accelerate his movements.
Nearer and nearer the ugly things
would come. till finally / noticed that
some were following, at about fifty feet
distance. Still this did not excite any
suspicion that l was to be attacked.
was now about halfway home, and
began To feel uneasy as the pack had
steadily increased until they nrm bered
some twenty-five, all the while swapping,
growing and fighting, and, you may
imagine, making rather an unpleasant
noise for lone traveller, at night, and
full m lie from nny house.
Closer and closer they passed as I walk
ed along, at rather brisker pace than
when l started they seemed to really
mean mischief by their actions.
admit, a cold perspiration broke out
upon my forehead ; hut stil; would not
admit that was in danger. True, had
heard of instances where men had been
killed by coyotes, but had never placed
faith in such stories.
Swapping snc growing like lot Of
hungry dogs over bsne. the whole pack
were following close upon my heels, and
at every step they seemed to gain upon
me, until they we're within ten ieet Of me.
Turning round, | shouted with all my
might and threw handful Of small stones
at them, with The idea of frightening them
away but it wouldn't DO (; they were not
TO be put to fight by either .oud words or
stones. Nearer and nearer they advanced,
stretching out in the form ofa semi.circie,
and presenting very form idable front -
Occasionally one would make feint as
though ts fasten his teeth in my leg SO
bringing my gun from my shoul lder, /
used ii MS sort OF club in defense.
Grasping it by the barrels firmly, l
would raise 1t over my head and bring it
down with considerable force on the body
ofany coyote that would make dash at
me.
BY this time they we're very close to me;
so close, in fact, that could nit one every
time / swung my gun; and row the
startling fact broke upon my mind that