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color； a twinkling of whitenessand went back empty。 While Arnaux cleft
the air of the valley as a stone from a sling； to be losta white…winged
birda spot with flashing haloand； quickly； a speck in the offing。 On
down the dear valley of Hudson； the well…known highway； for two years
he had not seen it！ Now he dropped low as the noon breeze came north
and ruffled the river below him。 Home！ home！ home！ and the towers of a
city are coming in view！ Home！ home！ past the great spider…bridge of
Poughkeepsie； skimming； skirting the river…banks。 Low now by the bank
as the wind arose。 Low； alas！ too low！
What fiend was it tempted a gunner in June to lurk on that hill by the
margin？ what devil directed his gaze to the twinkling of white that came
from the blue to the northward？ Oh； Arnaux； Arnaux； skimming low；
forget not the gunner of old！ Too low； too low you are clearing that hill。
Too lowtoo late！ Flashbang！ and the death…hail has reached him；
reached； maimed； but not downed him。 Out of the flashing pinions broken
feathers printed with records went fluttering earthward。 The 〃naught〃 of
his sea record was gone。 Not two hundred and ten； but twenty…one miles it
now read。 Oh； shameful pillage！ A dark stain appeared on his bosom； but
Arnaux kept on。 Home； home； homeward bound。 The danger was past in
an instant。 Home； homeward he steered straight as before； but the
wonderful speed was diminished； not a mile a minute now； and the wind
made undue sounds in his tattered pinions。 The stain in his breast told of
broken force； but on； straight on； he flew。 Home； home was in sight； and
the pain in his breast was forgotten。 The tall towers of the city were in
clear view of his far…seeing eye as he skimmed by the high cliffs of Jersey。
On； onthe pinion might flag； the eye might darken； but the home…love
was stronger and stronger。
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Under the tall Palisades； to be screened from the wind； he passed； over
the sparkling water； over the trees； under the Peregrines' eyrie； under the
pirates' castle where the great grim Peregrines sat； peering like black…
masked highwaymen they marked the on…coming Pigeon。 Arnaux knew
them of old。 Many a message was lying undelivered in that nest； many a
record…bearing plume had fluttered away from its fastness。 But Arnaux had
faced them before； and now he came as beforeon； onward； swift； but not
as he had been； the deadly gun had sapped his force； had lowered his
speed。 On； on； and the Peregrines； biding their time； went forth like two
bow…bolts； strong and lightning…swift they went against one weak and
wearied。
Why tell of the race that followed？ Why paint the despair of a brave
little heart in sight of the home he had craved in vain？ in a minute all was
over。 The Peregrines screeched in their triumph。 Screeching and sailing；
they swung to their eyrie； and the prey in their claws was the body； the last
of the bright little Arnaux。 There on the rocks the beaks and claws of the
bandits were red with the life of the hero。 Torn asunder were those
matchless wings； and their records were scattered unnoticed。 In sun and in
storm they lay till the killers themselves were killed and their stronghold
rifled。 And none knew the fate of the peerless Bird till deep in the dust and
rubbish of that pirate…nest the avenger found； among others of its kind； a
silver ring； the sacred badge of the High Homer； and read upon it the
pregnant inscription： 〃ARNAUX； 2590 C。〃
BADLANDS BILLY The Wolf that
Won
I
THE HOWL BY NIGHT
Do you know the three calls of the hunting Wolf：the long…drawn deep
howl； the muster； that tells of game discovered but too strong for the finder
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to manage alone； and the higher ululation that ringing and swelling is the
cry of the pack on a hot scent； and the sharp bark coupled with a short
howl that； seeming least of all； is yet a gong of doom； for this is the cry
〃Close in〃this is the finish？
We were riding the Badland Buttes； King and I； with a pack of various
hunting Dogs stringing behind or trotting alongside。 The sun had gone
from the sky； and a blood…streak marked the spot where he died； away
over Sentinel Butte。 The hills were dim； the valleys dark； when from the
nearest gloom there rolled a long…drawn cry that all men recognize
instinctivelymelodious； yet with a tone in it that sends a shudder up the
spine； though now it has lost all menace for mankind。 We listened for a
moment。 It was the Wolf…hunter who broke silence： 〃That's Badlands Billy；
ain't it a voice？ He's out for his beef to…night。〃
II
ANCIENT DAYS
In pristine days the Buffalo herds were followed by bands of Wolves
that preyed on the sick； the weak； and the wounded。 When the Buffalo
were exterminated the Wolves were hard put for support； but the Cattle
came and solved the question for them by taking the Buffaloes' place。 This
caused the wolf…war。 The ranchmen offered a bounty for each Wolf killed；
and every cowboy out of work； was supplied with traps and poison for
wolf…killing。 The very expert made this their sole business and became
known as wolvers。 King Ryder was one of these。 He was a quiet；
gentlespoken fellow； with a keen eye and an insight into animal life that
gave him especial power over Broncos and Dogs； as well as Wolves and
Bears； though in the last two cases it was power merely to surmise where
they were and how best to get at them。 He had been a wolver for years；
and greatly surprised me by saying that 〃never in all his experience had he
known a Gray…wolf to attack a human being。〃
We had many camp…fire talks while the other men were sleeping； and
then it was I learned the little that he knew about Badlands Billy。 〃Six
times have I seen him and the seventh will be Sunday； you bet。 He takes
his long rest then。〃 And thus on the very ground where it all fell out； to the
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noise of the night wind and the yapping of the Coyote； interrupted
sometimes by the deep…drawn howl of the hero himself； I heard chapters
of this history which； with others gleaned in many fields； gave me the
story of the Big Dark Wolf of Sentinel Butte。
III
IN THE CANON
Away back in the spring of '92 a wolver was 〃wolving〃 on the east side
of the Sentinel Mountain that so long was a principal landmark of the old
Plainsmen。 Pelts were not good in May； but the bounties were high； five
dollars a head； and double for She…wolves。 As he went down to the creek
one morning he saw a Wolf coming to drink on the other side。 He had an
easy shot； and on killing it found it was a nursing She…wolf。 Evidently her
family were so