484 THEY WALK OFF AGAIN 



for the loaded piece. The Inspector, meanwhile, went up to 

 the remaining wolf, which was still quite passive, and seized 

 it hy the leg, with the intention of drawing it towards our 

 vehicle. But as the beast showed signs of vitality, he gave 

 him a blow on the head with the butt of his gun. This, 

 however, had the contrary effect to that intended ; for instead 

 of dispatching, it brought him to life, and on to his legs 

 again; and a second blow mended not the matter, for he 

 now not only broke away from his captor, but following 

 the example of his comrade, ran away. At this moment 

 I had just got hold of the loaded gun, and was in the act 

 of giving the wolf the coup de grace, when, as ill-luck would 

 have it, the Inspector stood in the very line of fire, and in 

 consequence I dared not pull the trigger. 



" We afterwards got into the sledge, and endeavoured to 

 overtake the hard-lived beast that my comrade had been 

 belabouring ; but for the reason that our horse whom we 

 had selected because he was old and steady, and therefore 

 not likely to be afraid of fire could not be got out of a 

 walk, the attempt proved fruitless. We persevered, never- 

 theless, so long as possible; and at times, by the light of 

 the moon, saw the beast as he lunkade, or trotted slowly 

 before us. But it was of no avail, and we were at length 

 obliged though very reluctantly, and little satisfied with 

 our evening's work to give up farther pursuit for the 

 time. 



"At an early hour on the following morning, we re- 

 newed the chase. The wounded wolves had taken different 

 directions. The one the Inspector shot at, we found near to 

 the borders of the lake, and about three to four miles from 



