The Case of the Hungry Coyotes

by Joey Slaughter

It's me again, Hank the Cowdog.

Have I ever told you the story about Wallace and Junior? Well, I should. It started as a normal day on the ranch. Me and Drover had been on patrol and went to get some food when I heard a splash. I came running out of the machine shed and saw kitty kitty in the stock tank. I was about to ask Pete a question when I heard fluttering wings above us. It was two big black birds, which turned out to be Wallace and Junior, the buzzards.

Wallace had a crazy grin on his beak.

"Hi puppy dog. Junior and me was wondering if you might be willing to trade for that wet kitty. No? Maybe that rooster? No? How about that snake? No?" Wallace sighed. " OK, OK. Maybe something else." He looked around. "OK, How about them two coyotes?"

Huh?!?! I hadnāt seen coyotes! There they were on the roof, looking hungry.

Wallaceās face went blank. "Well, uh, well, I..." Then Rip and Snort the coyote brothers started licking their chops.

"Yum!" said Rip.

Wallace yelled, "Letās go, son!" Junior spread his wings, "W-w-well, o-o-ok, Paw," he said. I saw the coyotes running towards the buzzards as they took off. Seemed to me they might want another dinner.

While Rip and Snort watched the buzzards I told everyone to run and hide. When the coyote brothers looked down, they were astonished to see everyone gone. So they climbed down and well, sort of found, well, me, I guess you would say. In the stock tank, I made frog noises to try and trick them but they smelled me all around and I thought I was a goner for sure.

Suddenly, we heard a screech as Sally May yelled for Loper. I seems Rosebud the skunk had picked Sally Mayās garden to hide in. Sally May sure can yell!!

Rib and Snort slipped away growling. "We have Hunk-frog legs next time."

Case closed. Whew!

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"Hank the Cowdog" is a registered trademark of John R. Erickson Illustrations by Gerald L. Holmes