Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-09-29
A Cabin Full of Coyotes :
BY Villa Stevens

Dear Juniors:
AS l have not written to the Courier
Junior for some time thought would
write composition about coyotes.
When cold weather begins the owners
of sheep ranches have to drive the
sheep from the highlands down to low
lands.
Harry and Robert Carey often had to
drive home their fathers sheep. One
real chilly day the boys started out to
get the sheep This trip was always
dangerous for sometimes timber wolves
coyotes and mountain lions hide In the
timber. The boys carried rifles with
them.
After the boys had the sheep rounded
up ready to drive down the valley they
started and when they got about half
way night began to come and they
stopped. The sheep began feeding on
the grass while the boys prepared a
scant supper for nearly all the food was
eaten up.
After supper the boys lay down to
sleep.
Along in the night Robert heard a
loud cry and then faint Baa Baa. He
jumped up and grabbed his gun. He
called to Harry and told him. Then they
slipped along until they got to the
sheep. Are you sure they are not the
black Sheep" asked Harry Of Rob. Just
then the loud cry was heard again and
the boys knew it was not the black
sheep. Aim careful" said Rob to
Harry.
After they had killed three coyotes
and frightened the others they went
back to find the sheep.
Rob went on little hill while Harry
hunted in the valley for the sheep.
There are twenty-eight gone!"
shouted Rob, but no reply.
Then he shouted again and no reply.
Rob went to call again and his foot
slipped He rolled all the way down the
hill and when he came to the bottom he
saw that he had hurt his knee so that
he couldn't walk. Then he shouted
again and this time faint reply was
heard and soon Harry came to his aid.
Harry helped Rob to place called
sheep house where wool is often star
ed to get dry Here they found bacon.
coffee and a box Of crackers. Harry
built a fire, fried some bacon and made
some coffee Then Harry went to hunt
the sheep. 1t was very lonely for Rob
and he got cold. Then he thought OF the
wood. If he could get log Of wood
down from the loft he could keep warm.
He crawled as best he could over the
short ladder and with one foot started
to climb the ladder. When he was al
most to the top he heard the cry of
coyote and looking down he saw about
twenty five coyotes on the cabin floor.
Rob quickly climbed inside the loft and
put bag Of wool over the entrance.
AS fast as he would put one on the
hole they would tear it to pieces.
A thought came into Rob's mind; II
he could shut the door and get the
coyotes in a trip. Quickly he put two
bags of wool down and stuck his long
strong boot out and shut the door.
Just as he shut the door he heard the
faint bleat of the sheep iie had just
closed the door in time for the coyotes
also heard the sheep but they could not
get out because the door closed on the
inside. Then he heard Harry whistle
and he called Don't open the door
too wide, but peek in and shoot the
coyotes
Then Harry and his companions shot
all the coyotes and helped Rob home.
Rob received large sum of money for
the coyote skin and he was praised by
many of the people for his courage and
bravery.
villa Stevens, age -.
10 Gladstone St. Ottumwa. Iowa.