midnight
Four times he sprang , and four times the breath was almost jarred from his body as he smashed down on his side . As he rose from the last spring he suddenly stiffened , standing rigidly in one spot while every hair rose along his spine . Twenty feet away a great gray shape loomed in the sage . Breed knew it was the midnight killer who had left such sinister evidence of his handiwork scattered along the foot of the hills , -- and there was no doubt of his purpose . The yellow wolf was handicapped and knew that he had no chance , but he did not storm and rage aloud as a dog would have done ; his was the coyote way . He backed up inch by inch till he stood above the trap stake , and this move gave him a four-foot striking range each way . Flatear did not fear traps with the full knowledge of their powers and limitations as the coyotes did , but with the superstitious dread of the wolf .