Chapter I: Front Matter

BOOKS BY GEORGE BIRD GRINNELL

Published by CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

THE WOLF HUNTERS. Illustrated.
12mo, _net_ $1.35

BLACKFEET INDIAN STORIES. Illustrated.
12mo, _net_ $1.00

BEYOND THE OLD FRONTIER. Illustrated.
12mo, _net_ $1.50

TRAILS OF THE PATHFINDERS. Illustrated.
12mo, _net_ $1.50

BLACKFOOT LODGE TALES. The Story
of a Prairie People. 12mo, _net_ $1.75

PAWNEE HERO STORIES AND FOLK TALES.
Illustrated, 12mo, _net_ $1.75

THE WOLF HUNTERS

[Page 237]]

THE
WOLF HUNTERS

A STORY OF THE BUFFALO PLAINS

EDITED AND ARRANGED
FROM THE MANUSCRIPT ACCOUNT OF

ROBERT M. PECK

BY

GEORGE BIRD GRINNELL

_Illustrated_

CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
NEW YORK:::::::::::::::::::::1914

COPYRIGHT, 1914, BY
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

Published September, 1914

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

In the days of the buffalo, wolfing was a recognized industry. Small parties--two or more men--with team, saddle-horses, and camp outfit, used to go out into the buffalo range, establish a camp, and spend the winter there, killing buffalo and poisoning the carcasses with strychnine. The wolves that fed on these carcasses died about them, and their pelts were taken to camp, to be stretched and dried.

The work was hard and not without its dangers. Storms were frequent, and often very severe, and the Indians were bitterly opposed to the operations of these wolf hunters, who killed great numbers of buffalo for wolf baits, as well as elk, antelope, deer, and other smaller animals. On the other hand, in winter the Indians did not usually travel about very much.

The following pages describe the adventures of Mr. Peck and two companions--all recently discharged soldiers--during the winter of 1861-1862.

Robert Morris Peck was born in Washington, Mason County, Kentucky, October 30, 1839. At the age of seventeen--November, 1856--he enlisted in the First Cavalry, and the following year was sent to Fort Leavenworth and took part in the Cheyenne and other campaigns. He was discharged in 1861, and not very long afterward became a wagon-master, in which capacity he served in the army of the frontier. Mr. Peck died March 25, 1909.

G. B. G.

July, 1914.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. TOM'S PLAN 1

II. WE GET OUR DISCHARGES 7

III. WE FIND AN OUTFIT 12

IV. BACK TO THE BUFFALO RANGE 24

V. WE MEET DOUBTFUL CHARACTERS 42

VI. STANDING OFF THE JAYHAWKERS 51

VII. JACK TAKES A PRISONER 63

VIII. TOM'S STRATEGY 72

IX. BUFFALO NEAR THE BIG BEND 87

X. WHY SATANK KILLED PEACOCK 96

XI. WE REACH FORT LARNED 111

XII. OUR CAMP ON WALNUT CREEK 122

XIII. KILLED BY THE INDIANS 150

XIV. SATANTA'S STORY 159

XV. WILD BILL VISITS US 171

XVI. TOM LOCKS THE STABLE DOOR 184

XVII. VOLUNTEER TROOPS AT LARNED 195

XVIII. BILL RETURNS FROM HIS SCOUT 206

XIX. A NIGHT IN THE KIOWA CAMP 216

XX. WE TRADE WITH INDIANS 226

XXI. JACK'S CLOSE CALL 235

XXII. SATANK ARRIVES 243

XXIII. SURROUNDED BY KIOWAS 255

XXIV. CAPTAIN SAUNDERS' FIGHT 266

XXV. WE PART FROM FRIENDS 277

XXVI. BACK TO GOD'S COUNTRY 297

ILLUSTRATIONS

"Then come a puff of smoke and the prairie
was afire" _Frontispiece_

Facing page

"Five minutes to get out of range! Now,
git!" 60

"It must have been the work of Injuns" 154

"Go to Tom" 250

THE WOLF HUNTERS