The Black Wolf Pack

trappers assembled to meet the incoming stage. When I scrambled off the top of the old-fashioned coach, and before I had time to shake the alkali dust from my

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ttracted attention in any garb in any place by his distinguished appearance, who with little ceremony rudely brushe

aptain Mayne Reid's "Scalp Hunters"-Big Pete was evidently a hold-over from another age. He would have fitted perfectly and with nicety in a picture of Davy Crockett's men down in ol

dress he affected the old-fashioned picturesque garb of the mountains. His appearance filled me with wonder a

ell back like a sailor's collar into a short cape covering the shoulders. Underneath was the undershirt of dressed fawn skin; his leggins and moccasins were of the same material as

s; a light mustache, soft yellow beard, with a pair of the deepest, clearest, most innocent baby-l

from gold coins and set in the horn. The very stock of his long, single-barreled rifle is inlaid like an Arab's gun, and, as for

every article of use about his person was ornamented to an oriental degree. Gaudy and rich as his costume was when viewed in detail,

th, "Howdy, kid; yes, I'm Big Pete and allow you are the tenderfoot dude from New York what wants to shoot big game, an' reckon you'd like to meet the wild mountain man?

interest in this mysterious man of the mountains, only suggesting tha

d to take home to dad. As for the mountain wildman, I wis

wolf-but shucks, I won't spoil the show, you will see how he hunts for yourself if you stay here long. Glory be, but he's got me some bashful and shy. But mosey along and I'll hist yore stuff on this here cayuse while you let them th

d overlooked, store my surplus clothes with the postmaster at the general store, and repack my kit for pony travel. Then, after watching Big Pete skilfully throw the diamond hitch, we were off for the hills and our first camp

me in my life I slept under the sky. At the end of the fifth day we reached the secret and narrow opening of a b

in stir up a mountain lion or collar some fresh meat t' start camp wit

ng dogs slipped silently into the woods. He was gone scarcely a quarter of an hour wh

resh trail. Now you an' me'll climb through that draw yonder and hid

found a suitable hiding place among the small poplars. We had the wind right and a clea

tenderfoot shoes and chilled my feet; waited until my arm was so numb that it felt like a piece of lead-then, in spite of the danger of incurring Big P

position along the shore that their arrangement looked like the work of men. Back of this wharf and all about was the wilderness of silent wood; a wilderness enclosed by a wall of mountains, whose lofty heads were uplifted far above the soft white clouds that floated

per, for there was a strange ex

Keep yer ears open and yer m

ected the sound of crackling twigs and swishing

dogs. You startled me; I

weapons with a critical eye and loosened the cartridges for his revo

er," he remarked after he ha

sonant voice of the hounds, I heard nothing but the crackling

It's them for sartin; it's them agin

assumed, but his face looked sallow and worn. I marveled. Was this big wes

shing noise, and out leaped as beautiful a bull elk as I had ever seen-in fact the first I had ever seen at close range in his native wilderness. I had only time to take note of his muscular neck, clean cut limbs, his

laimed, pointi

rs, struck the bull, driving one talon into the neck and the other into the back, flapping

ierced the air, the black wolves immediately ceased to worry the elk, the eagle soared overhead, and for an instant the elk stood confus

id, when partly recover

id Pete la

ended like a thunderbolt

terity and skill that brought the color to Big Pete's face, proceeded to take the coat off the wapiti, while the great eagle perched upon the branching antlers. The skin was removed and with equal dexterity all the best parts of the meat were skilfully detached and packed in the green hide, after which, removing a large slice of red flesh, the strange hunter held up one fin