Hunting in Many Lands 



point Varied experience in the art of self- 

 defense had taught him skill and quickness, 

 and as each dog essayed to assail him he found 

 a threatening array of teeth. Throwing my- 

 self from the saddle, I cheered them on. Dan 

 and Scotty hesitated no longer, but rushed 

 savagely at him, one on either side, and the 

 whole pack, including the one recently scalped, 

 regardless of his gaping wound, followed them. 

 For a few minutes the pile resembled a 

 struggling mass of dogs, and the air seemed 

 filled with flying hair, fur and foam, and the 

 snapping of teeth was like castanets. At first 

 the wolf seemed only intent upon shaking off 

 his foes and escaping, but the punishment he 

 was receiving could not long be borne; and 

 from then on to the last gasp, with eyes flam- 

 ing with rage, every power seemingly put 

 forth, he fought like a demon possessed. As 

 he tossed the dogs about, seemingly breaking 

 their hold at will, I was singularly impressed 

 with his enormous size and strength, his shaggy 

 appearance and his generally savage look, and 

 suggested to Maje and Zach, who had come 

 up in the meantime, that we take a hand in 

 the fray, as I doubted the ability of the dogs 

 to finish him without serious loss. However, 



336 



