226 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



my eyes steadily fixed on him, he took courage, walked 

 into the water, and began to swim across about fifteen 

 yards ahead of the canoe. I let him gain the middle 

 of the stream, which may have been about sixty yards 

 wide, when I gave the canoe a good shove ahead, and 

 paddling as hard as I could, I gained fast on the sur- 

 prised wolf. In the first moment, not knowing which 

 shore to make for, he turned up stream, giving me thus 

 a great advantage over him. But he soon found out his 

 mistake, and turned in his first direction, this time 

 gaining an advantage over me, because my clumsy 

 craft was not easily turned. lie had about twenty 

 yards to swim, and we both tried hard which should 

 first reach the shore. The bank was still a few feet 

 distant, when I came alongside of the beast, which 

 was swimming desperately lor its life, and, forgetting 

 the ticklish nature of my craft, I rose up to give him a 

 blow across the spine with the sharp edge, of the paddle, 

 meaning then to attack him with my knife, a.s I was 

 without my rifle. He was close beside me, and looked 

 up at me as I raised the paddle, when the vile canoe 

 .slipped from under me ; I lost my balance, and fell into 

 the water just clear of the wolf, who touched bottom 

 at the same moment, and at once began shaking 

 himself. The water was not deep, but I was wet 

 through, and vexed at seeing my prey escape, just as I 

 had made sure of him. A wolfs scalp is valued at 

 three dollars in Arkansas. I had moreover the addi- 

 tional pleasure of swimming some way down the river 

 alter the canoe. 



I arrived at llnller's next day without further ail- 

 venture, embarked Kean's tilings, taking also all my 



