Little did he regard the sneaking wolf of the prairies—a true jackal—that attacks but the dead; the living, only when dying. He did not believe that he was dying.
It was a long dismal night to the sufferer; it seemed as if day would never dawn.
The light came at length, but revealed nothing to cheer him. Along with it came the birds, and the beasts went not away.
Over him, in the shine of another sun the vultures once more extended their shadowy wings. Around him he heard the howl-bark of the coyote, in a hundred hideous repetitions.
Crawling down to the stream, he once more quenched his thirst.
He now hungered; and looked round for something to eat.
A pecan tree stood, near.
There were nuts upon its branches, within six feet of the ground.
He was able to reach the pecan upon his hands and knees; though the effort caused agony.
With his crutch he succeeded in detaching some of the nuts; and on these broke his fast.
What was the next step to be taken?
To stir away from the spot was simply impossible.
The slightest movement gave him pain; at the same time assuring him of his utter inability to go anywhere.
He was still uncertain as to the nature of the injuries he had sustained—more especially that in his leg, which was so swollen that he could not well examine it.
He supposed it to be either a fracture of the knee-cap, or a dislocation of the joint.
In either case, it might be days before he could use the limb; and what, meanwhile, was he to do?
He had but little expectation of any one coming that way.
He had shouted himself hoarse; and though, at intervals, he still continued to send forth a feeble cry, it was but the intermittent effort of hope struggling against despair.
There was no alternative but stay where he was; and, satisfied of this, he stretched himself along the sward, with the resolve to be as patient as possible.
It required all the stoicism of his nature to bear up against the acute agony he was enduring. Nor did he endure it altogether in silence. At intervals it elicited a groan.
Engrossed by his sufferings, he was for a while unconscious of what was going on around him.
Still above him wheeled the black birds; but he had become accustomed to their presence, and no longer regarded it—not even when, at intervals, some of them swooped so near, that he could hear the “wheep” of their wings close to his ears.
Ha! what was that—that sound of different import?
It resembled the pattering of little feet upon the sandy channel of the stream, accompanied by quick breathings, as of animal in a state of excitement.
He looked around for an explanation.
“Only the coyotes!” was his reflection, on seeing a score of these animals flitting to and fro, skulking along both banks of the stream, and “squatting” upon the grass.
Hitherto he had felt no fear—only contempt—for these cowardly creatures. But his sentiments underwent a change, on his noticing their looks and attitudes. The former were fierce; the latter earnest and threatening.
Clearly did the coyotes mean mischief.
He now remembered having heard, that these animals—ordinarily innocuous, from sheer cowardice—will attack man when disabled beyond the capability of defending himself. Especially will they do so when stimulated by the smell of blood.
His had flowed freely, and from many veins—punctured by the spines of the cactus.
His garments were saturated with it, still but half dry.
On the sultry atmosphere it was sending forth its peculiar odour. The coyotes could not help scenting it.
Was it this that was stirring them to such excited action—apparently making them mad?
Whether or not, he no longer doubted that it was their intention to attack him.
He had no weapon but a bowie knife, which fortunately had kept its place in his belt.
His rifle and pistols, attached to the saddle, had been carried off by his horse.
He drew the knife; and, resting upon his right knee, prepared to defend himself.
He did not perform the action a second too soon.
Emboldened by having been so long left to make their menaces unmolested—excited to courage by the smell of blood, stronger as they drew nearer—stimulated by their fierce natural appetites—the wolves had by this time reached the turning point of their determination: which was, to spring forward upon the wounded man.
They did so—half a dozen of them simultaneously—fastening their teeth upon his arms, limbs, and body, as they made their impetuous onset.
With a vigorous effort he shook them off, striking out with his knife.
One or two were gashed by the shining blade, and went howling away.
But a fresh band had by this time entered into the fray, others coming up, till the assailants counted a score.
The conflict became desperate, deadly.
Several of the animals were slain. But the fate of their fallen comrades did not deter the survivors from continuing the strife.
On the contrary, it but maddened them the more.
The struggle became more and more confused—the coyotes crowding over one another to lay hold of their victim.
The knife was wielded at random; the arm wielding it every moment becoming weaker, and striking with less fatal effect.
The disabled man was soon further disabled. He felt fear for his life.
No wonder—death was staring him in the face.