140 The Home of the Wolverene and Beaver. 



luck, you will sec some fun in the morninf^.' With 

 this expectation we retired to rest, and were up at 

 daylight. ' I think,' said our host, * that all is 

 right ; for I see the dogs are anxious to get away 

 to the pits, and although they are nothing but curs, 

 their noses are pretty keen for wolves.' As he 

 took up his gun, and axe, and a large knife, the dogs 

 began to howl and bark, and whisked round us, as 

 if full of delight. When we reached the first pit, 

 we found the bait had been disturbed and the plat- 

 form was somewhat injured, but the animal was 

 not in the pit ; on examining the second pit, we 

 discovered three famous fellows safe enough in 

 it, two black and one brindled, all of good size. 

 They were lying flat on the earth, with their 

 ears close down to their heads, their eyes in- 

 dicating fear more than anger. To our astonish- 

 ment, the farmer proposed descending into the 

 pit to hamstring them, in order to haul them 

 up, and then allow them to be killed by the dogs, 

 which, he said, would sharpen his curs for an en- 

 counter with the wolves, should any come near his 

 house in future. Being novices in this kind of 

 business, we begged to be lookers-on. ' With all 

 my heart,' cried the farmer, ' stand here, and look at 

 me,' whereupon he glided down, on a knotted 

 pole, taking his axe and knife with him, and leaving 



