214 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



path: they proved that human beings sometimes, at 

 least, visited that part of the country, and for a moment 

 served to cheer my drooping spirits. 



About dusk, an immense sized wolf rushed out of a 

 thick copse, a short distance' from the pathway, planted 

 himself directly before me, in a threatening position, 

 and appeared determined to dispute my passage. He 

 was not more than twenty feet from me. My situation 

 was desperate, and as I knew that the least symptom of 

 fear would be the signal for attack, I presented my 

 stick, and shouted as loud as my weak voice would per- 

 mit. He appeared somewhat startled, and retreated a 

 few steps, still keeping his piercing eyes firmly fixed on 

 me. I advanced a little, when he commenced howling 

 in a most appalling manner ; and supposing his inten- 

 tion was to collect a few of his comrades to assist in 

 making an afternoon repast on my half-famished carcass, 

 I redoubled my cries, until I had almost lost the power 

 of utterance, at the same time calling out various names, 

 thinking I might make it appear I was not alone. An 

 old and a young lynx ran close past me, but did not stop. 

 The wolf remained about fifteen minutes in the same 

 position ; but whether my wild and fearful exclamations 

 deterred any others from joining him, I cannot say. 

 Finding at length my determination not to flinch, and 

 that no assistance was likely to come he retreated into 

 the wood, and disappeared in the surrounding gloom. 



The shades of night were now descending fast, when 

 I came to a verdant spot, surrounded by small trees, 

 and full of rushes, which induced me to hope for water ; 

 but after searching for some time, I was still doomed to 



