Like a grey shadow lurking in the light, br He ventures forth along the edge of night; br With silent foot he scouts the coulie's rim br And scents the carrion awaiting him. br His savage eyeballs lurid with a flare br Seen but in unfed beasts which leave their lair br To wrangle with their fellows for a meal br Of bones ill-covered. Sets he forth to steal, br To search and snarl and forage hungrily; br A worthless prairie vagabond is he. br Luckless the settler's heifer which astray br Falls to his fangs and violence a prey; br Useless her blatant calling when his teeth br Are fast upon her quivering flank--beneath br His fell voracity she falls and dies br With inarticulate and piteous cries, br Unheard, unheeded in the barren waste, br To be devoured with savage greed and haste. br Up the horizon once again he prowls br And far across its desolation howls; br Sneaking and satisfied his lair he gains br And leaves her bones to bleach upon the plains.