Adventure Magazine Cover — page 141: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Do you know what a —— coyote is, Mid- dileton?” “No, I do not, and perhaps it is just as well.”’ Just then we heard the gentle lowing of a sheep. Perhaps it was the call of one to its mate, and we knew we had come to the right place. We crossed to a fence, in- side of which we found the sheep. The gate was locked, but Middleton immediately went to work to break it with a rock. The noise he made seemed to irritate the canine again, causing it to emit staccato barks. “T fear that the dog will upset our plans, Pettingill,’ said Middleton as we heard the door open again. “Not at all,” I reassured him. “We will use strategy. A coyote is'a young wolf, don’t you see? I will dissemble.” I have never made a study of the cries and calls of wild animals, but I did the best I could. Clearing my throat, I began a low-voiced howling, such as one hears in the Zoo at feeding-time. The dog only barked the louder, and then came voices, A “COYOTE ——!” cried ‘one. Py i‘That’s a banshee with bronchial trouble, Sandy. I stopped howling, the dog stopped bark- , and then we heard: “Pye a hunch, Micky. Give me them shells loaded with number sevens. This ain’t no buckshot party.” ‘Ah! Thank goodness, the barrier is removed!’’ exclaimed Middleton, and I heard the chain fall. Middleton gave the gate a shove, and it creaked open. “Sic ’em, Shep!” cried a voice. It is likely that the dog misunderstood orders, as I feel sure that its master meant. us when he said “‘’em,” but the dog circled us and went through the fence after the | sheep. “Run!” exclaimed Middleton. coming out!” Middleton was right. Just at that moment one of those sheep tried to go between my legs. It was a large one—too large, in fact. I grasped it with one hand, quickly, holding my ~gun in the other, and attempted to ride it away, but it sprang for a place where all “They’re 2 Of the fence was missing except for a bar- -— Shepherds: for Science 6 ee oT ee z » ae? 5 > cet = a ane . s eR. Oe ee hee RI ed barous wire stretched along the top; and aS ss I went backward into the dirt. I managed to roll over and get to my hands and kneés just in time to be struck a murderous blow from the rear, which projected me under the wire and outside the fence. There may have been other openings in that fence, but I will wager that a large per cent. of those sheep came through there and walked over me. After the procession of sharp hoofs had passed me I crawled back and recovered my gun. I had no idea of where Middleton had gone. In fact I don’t believe I gave him a thought. I got to my feet and limped away, feel- ~ ing rather dazed, as a man might feel after being hard hit, as it were. I toiled up the side of a hill, and suddenly I dis- cerned Middleton. I knew him by the silhouette of his hat against the sky. “Thank goodness, I have found you!” I exclaimed. ; “Same to you,’ he replied; and it was not Middleton’s voice but the voice of the party who suggested the banshee. I saw the glisten of his gun as he turned. I don’t know what prompted me to do it, but I leveled my gun and pulled the trigger. The roar deafened me and the concus- sion hurled me backward, but I had pres- ence of mind enough to crawl away. Sud- denly I fell into a depression, where I lay uiet. He‘Hey!”” cried a voice. Micky?” “Tt was—worse luck to me, Sandy! “Was it a shepherd?” “T won’t swear to nothing until I assay meself, but from the feel of me I’d say it was a duck-hunter. Ouch! The divil blazed away at sixty feet, and almost cut the boots off me legs! Bird-shot be the handful!” “Which way did he go, Micky?” “How should I know? I always hides me head in a storm of bird-shot.”’ “Where in thunder did you get that hard hat?” “Down be the corral. Did you ever know a shepherd to wear a baked bonnet before, Sandy?” They talked in low tones for a few moments, and then I heard the one called Sandy say: Well they’re well scattered, and there’s no use hunting in thedark. Next time we’ll pack Winchesters when them -—— wool- “Ties cross the eer 4g “Was that you, 139 baler _ ¥ ~ - - pa 7 < - > = S- a —e ie" «i aot re) —— —— ee at A oe he we May —— 7 np a aes Ps =| -~ oye) l= _~ Lae sie (0 EDOOKS ; ' }) | | = y