406 The Wilderness Hunter. 



towards them, our two greyhounds stretching out in front 

 and leaving us as if we were standing still, the track-hounds 

 and big dogs running after them just ahead of the horses. 

 Fortunately the wolf plunged for a moment into a little 

 brushy hollow and again doubled back, and this gave us 

 a chance to see the end of the chase from nearby. The 

 two greyhounds which had first taken up the pursuit were 

 then but a short distance behind. Nearer they crept until 

 they were within ten yards, and then with a tremendous 

 race the little bitch ran past him and inflicted a vicious 

 bite in the big beast's ham. He whirled around like a 

 top and his jaws clashed like those of a sprung bear-trap, 

 but quick though he was she was quicker and just cleared 

 his savage rush. In another moment he resumed his 

 flight at full speed, a speed which only that of the grey- 

 hounds exceeded ; but almost immediately the second grey- 

 hound ranged alongside, and though he was not able to 

 bite, because the wolf kept running with its head turned 

 around threatening him, yet by his feints he delayed the 

 beast's flight so that in a moment or two the remaining 

 couple of swift hounds arrived on the scene. For a 

 moment the wolf and all four dogs galloped along in a 

 bunch ; then one of the greyhounds, watching his chance, 

 pinned the beast cleverly by the hock and threw him com- 

 pletely over. The others jumped on it in an instant ; but 

 rising by main strength the wolf shook himself free, catch- 

 ing one dog by the ear and tearing it half off. Then he 

 sat down on his haunches and the greyhounds ranged 

 themselves around him some twenty yards off, forming a 

 ring which forbade his retreat, though they themselves did 



