WOLVES. 87 



Wolves also follow the hunter, and lurk in his 

 neighbourhood, to share in the produce of his gun. 

 Their strength enables them to break occasionally 

 into a cache, but they have neither the skill nor 

 the tenacity of purpose of the wolverene, and the 

 damage they commit is generally on the carcases 

 of deer recently slain, while the hunter has gone 

 for a sledge to bring them in. On his return in 

 an hour or two he often finds only the well 

 picked bones. These wolves, though of large size, 

 are a timid race, and seldom or never exhibit the 

 ferocity and ravenous boldness of their Pyrenean 

 brethren. When reduced by famine they are very 

 abject and unresisting. Mr. Bell once, while re- 

 siding on Mackenzie's River, caught a full-grown 

 but famished wolf in a marten-trap tied to a small 

 log, which it had not strength to carry away. 

 He went to the fort for a line to lead it home, 

 and the children who accompanied him back as- 

 sisted in bringing it in, by pushing it on from 

 behind. It made no resistance, and suffered itself 

 to be tied quietly to the stockades of the fort. 

 The experiment of taming it was not, however, 

 made, and after the curiosity of the people was 

 satisfied, it was killed. At another time, a wolf, 

 driven by hunger, was prowling about Fort Ed- 

 monton, when, being scared by some of the people 

 who were passing, it took shelter in the kitchen. 



G 4 



