IT HAPPENED BECAUSE IT WAS A NINE-MILE RUN AND ALL THE COWBOYS RODE THEIR HORSES TO A STANDSTILL IN THE FIRST THREE OR FOUR MILES, AFTER WHICH I CAME BOUNDING ALONG, LIKE KERMIT IN THE PAPER CHASE, AND GOT TO THE END IN TIME TO SEE THE REALLY REMARKABLE FEAT OF ABERNETHY JUMPING ON TO THE WOLF, THRUSTING HIS GLOVED HAND INTO ITS MOUTH, AND MASTERING IT THEN AND THERE. HE NEVER USED A KNIFE OR A ROPE IN TAKING THESE WOLVES, SEIZING THEM BY SHEER QUICKNESS AND ADDRESS AND THRUSTING HIS HAND INTO THE WOLF'S MOUTH IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT LOST ALL POWER TO BITE.