The Yellow Horde

"The Yellow Horde" by Hal G. Evarts is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around Breed, a half-wolf, half-coyote creature, and his journey through the wilderness, intermingling themes of survival, adaptation, and the complexities of animal behavior. As the narrative unfolds, we observe how Breed navigates his dual identity while interacting with both coyotes and the human world, particularly a character named Collins, known as the Coyote Prophet. At the start of the story, we are introduced to Collins, a wolfer who appreciates the wild sounds of the foothills, indicating the coexistence of humans and wildlife. Through his prophetic observations, he foresees the survival of coyotes amidst human efforts to exterminate them. Meanwhile, Breed is portrayed as a cunning breed-wolf, drawn by his instincts to hunt and connect with his coyote heritage. The opening sets the stage for Breed's internal struggles with his identity and the external challenges he faces from human hunters and his predatory uncle, Flatear. The dynamic between Breed and the other animals he encounters hints at deeper themes of survival, community, and the shifting balance between man and nature.