Ralphson George Harvey - Boy Scouts on the Open Plains; The Round-Up Not Ordered стр 12.

Amos had joined the circle again, and once more the conversation had become general. Ned asked numerous questions concerning the ranch which they expected to visit, and in this way they learned in advance considerable about the puncher gang, some of the peculiarities of various members of the same, as well as the floating news of the region.

When Amos was asked about the hunting he gave glowing accounts of the sport to be had by those willing to ride twenty miles or more to the coulies of the foothills, where a panther or a grizzly bear might be run across, and deer were to be stalked.

How about wolves? Jimmy wanted to know.

Jimmy always declared war on wolves. He had had some experiences with the treacherous animals in the past, and could not forget. There was a standing grudge between them, and every time Jimmy found a chance he liked to knock over a gray prowler.

Amos shrugged his narrow shoulders as though he took very little stock in such cowardly animals.

Oh! the punchers they have a round-up for the critters every fall, an so you see they kind of keep em low in stock. Then besides, ever since they took to payin a bounty for wolf scalps, men go out to hunt for the same when they aint got nothin else to do. They aint aplenty about this part of the country nowadays. I reckon as how thats why Wolf Harkness took to raisin the critters.

Whats that, raising wolves, do you mean, Amos? Sure you must be kiddin? was the way Jimmy greeted this announcement.

Not me, Jimmy; its plain United States Im giving you, sure I am, the other insisted.

But there aint no great call for wolf pelts, like there is for black fox and coon, and otter, and skunks and that sort of thing. How dye spose this Wolf Harkness makes it pay?

Oh! thats easy, replied Amos, carelessly. You see, he kills off a certain number of his stock once in so often and sells the skins. Then later on they reckon that he collects the bounty for wolf scalps from the State.

But say, that looks kind of queer for any man to raise pests, and then expect to make the State pay him so much for every one he kills, Jimmy remarked, shaking his head as though he found it difficult to believe.

Dont know how he manages, the boy continued. Heard some say that the law, it left a loophole for such practices, and that they couldnt stop him. Others kind of think he sells the scalps to some hunter, who collects for the same. But everybody just knows Harkness does get a heap of cash out of his queer business.

Ever been to his pen and seen his stock? asked Jimmy.

Yes, once I happened that way, but the smell drove me away. There must have been thirty or more wolves in the stockade right then, and they looked like they was pretty nigh starved, too. I dreamed that night they broke loose and got me cornered in an empty cabin. I barred the door, but they pushed underneath and clumb through the broken windows, and everywhere I looked I saw red tongues and pale yellow eyes! Then I woke up, and was scared near stiff, for there was a pair of eyes in the dark right alongside me in the loft at home. But say, that turned out to be only our old black cat.

All of them laughed with Amos, as though they could fully appreciate the scare he must have received on that occasion.

The subject of the wolf farm seemed to have interested Jimmy intensely, for he went on asking more questions concerning the raising of the animals, what they were fed on, the price of wolf pelts, and a lot more along the same lines until finally Harry turned to Ned and complained.

Tell him to change the subject, wont you, Ned? Hell have the lot of us dreaming were beset by a horde of wolves. And youd better make him draw all the charges out of his gun to-night, because hes sure to sit up and begin blazing away, to keep from being dragged off. Jimmys got a big imagination, you know, and every once in a while it runs away with him.

Tell me, announced Jimmy, rather indignantly, whos got a better right to be askin questions about the habits of the animals than me, whos a member of that same Wolf Patrol? How can you expect a feller to give the right kind of a howl when he wants to signal to his mates, unless he finds out all these things.

Oh! if thats the worst

you are after, Jimmy, go ahead and find out, Jack was heard to say, condescendingly. I thought you had a more serious scheme in that head of yours than just accumulating knowledge.

Jimmy turned and looked at him suspiciously.

And what did you think I had up me sleeve, if its a fair question? he asked.

Why, you see, began Jack, with a twinkle in his eye, I was afraid that you might want to invest what money youve got saved in starting a wolf ranch of your own, or trying to buy this old man Harkness out. I supposed that was why you wanted to know the exact value of wolf hides, and what the State paid bounty on scalps. But Im just as glad to find that youre not bothering your head over the business part of the game. Perhaps youd like to meet up with this Harkness, thinking he might give you a chance to shoot his collection of hungry wolves. That would be a snap for a fellow who hates the beasts like you do, and has made a vow to never let one get past him, when he had a gun handy or a stone to heave.