81 



proved fruitless. I could not induce him to utter a single sound, nor 

 did he attempt to snarl or growl even under strong provocation. I 

 noticed that whenever I stepped off a few paces, at each step he raised 

 his body until he stood at his full height. At each step as I approached 

 him again, he lowered himself until he lay flat on the ground with his 

 head between his paws, in which position he remained as long as I stood 

 beside him. He seemed exceedingly shy and timorous; but he was far 

 too cunning to display any ferocity. 



An otter, a fisher, a lynx or a marten would have growled, snarled 

 and fought viciously under similar conditions. 



I feel convinced that with a collar and chain, I could have led him 

 home without difficulty. I put this opinion to the test, in the following 

 manner. For the purpose of fastening the trap, I had cut down a bal- 

 sam sapling about two inches in diameter, the root end of which I cut 

 off square, into which I drove a staple. To this staple I locked the 

 trap chain with a small padlock. I then l-eplanted the tree exactly in 

 the spot where it had grown, aud where the wolves had been in the 

 habit of seeing it night after night for weeks. 



When I had completed my zoological experiments — never then ex- 

 pecting to tell you anything about them — I unlocked the chain and 

 started towards home. The wolf arose and followed me quietly for 

 about a quarter of a mile, when I accidently tripped over a pine root 

 and fell. Had I not known something about the history and character 

 of my companion, there might have been, then and there, a tragedy of 

 peculiar interest. The instant I fell, and before I attempted to rise. I 

 turned my head quickly and looked my prisoner in the eye. I found 

 him with his eyes flashing and his whole body gathered for a spring. 

 The moment I caught his eye he cowered before my gaze. Had I not 

 been pi"ompt, it is quite within the bounds of possibility that my audi- 

 ence might not have heard my story. However, I was young, strong 

 and active then, and you may rest assured that I could not have been 

 silenced without a determined and sanguinary struggle. 



Long before the occurrence of the incident just related, I had 

 learned that it was dangerons to fall even in the presence of a domesti- 

 cated wolf. 



I need scarcely say that I did not trouble my amiable companion 



