Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1906-01-26
THE BLOOD OF
HIS SIRES
By c. D. LEWIS
COPYRIGHT I'os. BY n. 3. Mcclure

wolf.
When night had come down there had
come with it from the crest OF the
mountains. from the black mouths Of
the passes, from the depths OF the dis.
NAL anyons. a wind that cut like a
knife and shriveled like Gre, and now
and then a gust had brought hail 70
sting like bird shot. The wolf had gone
back to his lair and given up the hunt
for the night. There would be no game
afoOt for him In such weather.
When morning came the weather had
aoftened a bit, and there were snow
fakes flying about in wild confusion.
The wolf sat up at the mouth Of his
lair and whined II complained. As
he felt the pangs OK hunger he howled
dlsmally. No beast OF prey can lind
his game bllndfolded. Back In the cave
was a mother wolf, with her two young,
softly growing to herself as she heard
the howls OF the father.
BY and by the wind ceased for q mo
ment. as II smothered by the falling
aakes, and then 1t came with noisy
complaint up the narrow valley and
Ground tie rocky cliffs and big bowl
ders. The wolf ceased bowling. The
wind brought him a talnt-a scent. He
stood on his hind legs ana paved the
air and shifted and showed his fangs.
A m later he signaled for the
mother wolf to Join him. She also
reared up and shifted at the mir.
II surely was the scent OF game. II
was feeble and zane from afar. but 1t
was worth investigation. With a half
angry growl ut each other, born of hun.
ger and greed, the wolves bounded
away down the wind. The falling cur
taln Of snow limited their vision to
yards, but a VOLTS nose guides him
after he becomes blind Of old age.
1--WE will 90 out this morning" said
the leader Of the park patrol to his
men. I'VE will go north, east. south
and west. The b~uffaloes will be lying
up in the Tickets in such a storm az
this, and the wolves will be hungry to
End them"
They went In pairs. the strong and
hardy men who brave the seasons to
protect life in the great park set aside
for the nation away up where the wa.
ters of the muddy Missouri are as cold
rs tie Arctic ocean aud as clear as
glass.
The buGaloes would have only one
enemy on such a day-the big timber
wolf. The bear would wait for better
weather 20 search for his food. The
Rien turned their backs on each other
leaned forward on their snowshoes and
in thirty seconds were hidden from
each other's sight. They knew the
groves, The thickets, the spots which
the buffalo would seek for shelter, and
they skirted or passed through such
places with the stealthy tread OF
ghosts.
'IIarkl 1t IS the sRarl Of a wolfv'
The two men who had gone TO the
north halted IN their tracks with hand
to ear and listened. As the wind had
brought the scent to the wolf at the
door Of his lair SO it also brought the
menacing snarls Of a beast Of prey to
the expectant patrollers.
evolves, for sure!"
"And after bHffalol Straight aheadP'
The wolves had followed the scent 10
its source. A buffalo bull and three or
four cows, scattered some distance
from the main herd. were sheltered up
in a small grove on the bank OF a creek.
The bull had come to his prime in the
wild and rugged park. He was not a
stranger to the grunt OF the bear and
the snarl OF the wolf. They had men.
aced him many times. and many times
he had deded them. though It had new.
o. come 10 open attack. Both wolf and
bear appeared to have an intuition that
the buffalo was under mans protection
and that Il would not do to GO too far.
With the scent coming stronger at
avery jump, the wolves at length broke
through the dead vines and stunted ce-
dars 10 find themselves upon their prey.
In front Of the thlcket was an open
glade. They paused here for q mo-
ment to plan the attack. and as they
planned they whlned and snarled and
Growled. They did not want to have
anything to do With the bull. The COWS
were not fighters. and their flesh was
more tender. II they became fright
ened at the growing they would make
a bolt for II and separate.
The bull had caught sight Of his enc
mics as they broke cover. He neve
had seen a timber wolf at such close
quarters. Something told him that they
were hungry and desperate and tina
they would attack. He gave a shIvel
OF apprehension aud almost started tC
Zee. Then the blood OF his sires cam
Eurging through him. They had Tough
the wolves OF the prairie. the wolves OIL
the timber, the lions Of the foothills
Many had been pulled down after
long. hard battle. but not one hat
OYer turned tail and run away. Witt
. call 10 stand their ground and witt
head and tail up and eyes beginning t
burn. he dashed out Of his covert Il
begin the battle. lie had bulk. aud hr
must have freedom OF movement. Th'
wolves. surprised by his sudden attack
gave way. but they did not go far.
NOW we shall see a eight worth talk
Ing Of" said one OF the patrollers a.
both took positions OF vantage. "Th'
wolves are big aud hungry and Gun