20008. Death In His Saddlebags, Charles Baldwin Genung, Arizona Pioneer, by Dan B. Genung, page 103, Camp Date Creek, 1871 (article)

DEATH IN HIS SADDLEBAGS Charles Baldwin Genung, Arizona Pioneer by Dan B. Genung page 103 CAMP DATE CREEK, 1871 In late afternoon, discovering that one of their horses was lame, Charley and the two Yavapai decided to remain overnight. After supper, all except those on guard duty gathered around a campfire. Pete, the large Mastiff Carl Smith had given Ida, had made the trip to Camp Date Creek at Ida’s insistence. Pete had been getting restless and needed the exercise, she said. She would be airight with the other guard dogs and the number of workmen at the ranch. “Wait’ll you see the fun we have,” the soldiers told Charley. The fun was a nightly visit from two coyotes who crept near the circle of fire. When the coyotes came too close, the soldiers’ dogs would attack. The coyotes would retreat to what seemed to be a set distance, then turn and chase the dogs back to the campfire. These seesaw races took place nightly until the coyotes became bored and trotted away. Pete leaped up, when the coyotes approached. “Wait. boy,” Charley commanded when the camp dogs began their pursuit, Charley said, “Now.” Pete took off after the others. “Wait’ll they turn. Watch him howl when the coyotes turn,” the soldiers told one another. Pete did not understand the game at all. He charged at the coyotes, grabbed the nearest one by the back, threw him in the air, and went after the other. Seeing no chance to catch the fleet animal, he soon stopped, sniffed at the one he killed and trotted back to the fire. He didn’t realize that he had spoiled the soldiers’ fun.