FEARLESS OF FIRE. 453 



already died raving mad, and the population of the place are 

 in a state of the most terrible consternation." 



It is the generally received opinion that wild beasts flee 

 from fire ; but such seems not always to be the case with the 

 wolf. 



" When I was out one night for the purpose of spearing 

 pike by Bloss, or torch-light, near to Ekshult, in West- 

 gothland, and in a Karr-Ang, or wet meadow, then covered 

 with water from the adjoining lake," says the Jagare 

 Roxberg, " my attention was attracted by a splashing in the 

 water, as of a dog running through it. Supposing it to be 

 one of my own dogs that had got loose and followed me, I 

 steered my Ek-stock* up a dyke that intersected the field, 

 where the water was deeper, that I might take the animal into 

 the punt. When I had approached the Skogs-bryn, or edge 

 of the wood, I perceived a much larger object, which at 

 first I almost fancied might be a human being ; but by the 

 light of the fire I soon made it out to be a large wolf, 

 standing quite still in the water, and gazing attentively at 

 the Bloss. He was not at more than twenty feet distance. 

 Thus we stood looking at each other for several minutes. 

 But when I attempted to approach somewhat nearer, for 

 the purpose of driving my Ljuster into his body, he moved 

 off; not, however, in an opposite direction, but in a line 

 with the Ek-stock, and with his head always turned towards 

 the light. Subsequently I heard him wading in the water, 

 along the edge of the meadow, where he disturbed several 

 wild ducks, as evidenced by their cries when they took wing. 



The wolf has the reputation of being innately a great 



* The trunk of a tree hollowed out in the manner of a canoe. 



