WOLVES AND WOLF-HOUNDS. 201 



tunately not been able to see the wolves when 

 they first broke from the cover, and never saw 

 the wounded wolf at all, starting off at full 

 speed after the unwounded one the instant he 

 topped the crest of the hill. He had taken 

 advantage of a slight hollow and turned, and 

 now the chase was crossing us half a mile 

 away. With whip and spur we flew 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. Fortu- 

 nately 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 greyhounds exceeded ; but almost immedi- 

 ately the second greyhound ranged along- 

 side, and though he was not able to bite, be- 

 cause 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 



