midnight
Lend me your double-barrel ; I 'm in no mood for talking , and an all-day tramp after prairie-chicken may help to steady me . '' I took down the old weapon -- it was a muzzle-loader -- and called our little English terrier Grip . He was rather a nuisance than otherwise when stalking prairie-fowl , but he was an affectionate beast , and I felt glad of his company . Then for several hours I strode on across the prairie , hardly seeing the clattering coveys at which Grip barked furiously , and I might have wandered on until midnight but that when skirting a grove of willows he must most foolishly follow the trail of a coyote . Now , the prairie-wolf , though timorous enough where a man is concerned , is generally willing to try conclusions with even a powerful dog , and when presently a great snarling commenced I burst at full speed through the willows . It was high time , for the coyote had pinned the terrier down , and there was barely opportunity to pitch up the gun and take a snapshot at its shoulder before my pet 's struggles would have ended . Then I ran in through the smoke to find that the wounded beast still held the hapless dog , and as the other barrel was empty I swung the butt aloft and brought it down crashing on its head .