BACK FROM THE SIERRA 11

every day for three daays j.t. killed a lion or a wolf. he would ride a different trail and cover a different part of the ranch. he was surprised that the country was so over burdened with the wild preditors. billy seemed pleased every day when he came back with a hide. billy didnt get very many kills but j.t. saw why. billy went across the country like a locomotive. he was loud and his horse was loud crashing through the brush. on the fifth day j.t. was down off his horse skinning a large wolf he had found feasting on a cow carcas. but something didnt feel right. when he looked up there stood a stocky built man watching him. his hair was jet black and hung just past his ears. he was dressed as any cowpuncher except he wore teguas, the knee high apache mocasin. " ime shug, i heard your gun shot. i came to check it out. you must be j.t., billy told me about you."the half apache introduced him self. jt stood up and was going to extend his hand but he realized it wwas covered in blood. : sorry the hand shake will have to wait." j.t. said. shug grinned and chuckled" honest blood wont hurt any one good to meet you. the reason ime down this low i was tracking a cat that made off with my trap. pulled up the stake. must be a big one. all i want is the trap if you catch him see ya."shug turned and went to his horse before j,t, could say anything. he waved as shug rode away. he watched him until he was out of sight then returned to the skinning. then horses that billy furnished were for sure top notvh cow horses, but they wernt predisposed to carrying bloody hides. j.t. had a few wrecks at first but got them used to the smell. on the night he rode in from meeting shug his horse was danceing aand being foolish. j.t. was occipied with him as they came up to the barn. it was then he sw billys horse standing there dragging his bridle reins. j.t. dropped the wolf hide to the ground and leaned over and grabbed the reins on the horse. it was then he saw the scratches along the horses shoulder. leading the horse he started back the way he knew billy was working.. the worst things crossing his mind. just at dark he saw billy marching toward him, his rifle over his shoulder. "thanks pard! this form of transportation is a little hard on boot leather. ole fred didnt like being clawed by that lion i guess." billy gathered his bridle reins and mounted the quivering horse." poor ole bugger is still scared." " that must have been a big bad lion to do that, look how spread apart his claw marks are."j.t. pointed out the scratches on the horses shoulder.. " yep, i told you we had plenty. i was skinning a wolf when i heard the commotion. by the time i got to where fred was he was gone and i just heard a clanking sound going through the brush."billy explained. j.t. told him about meeting shug and the lion dragging off his trap. " well i bet that was what we ran into. that trap might have made him some upset haveing to drag it around."billy said as he turned toward the head quarters." ime hungry"