78 THE ADIRONDACK. 



the stock into fragments without disabling her. He 

 then seized the barrel, which, making a better 

 bludgeon, told with more effect. The bleeding and 

 enraged animal seized the hard iron with her teeth, 

 and endeavored to wrench it from his grasp — 

 but it was a matter of life and death with Cheney, 

 and he fought savagely. But, in the meantime, 

 the wolf, by stepping on his snow-shoes as she closed 

 with him, threw him over. He then thought the 

 game was up, unless he could make his dogs, which 

 were scouring the forest around, hear him. He 

 called loud and sharp after them, and soon one — a 

 young hound — sprung into view : but no sooner did 

 he see the condition of his master, than he turned in 

 affright, and with his tail between his legs, fled into 

 the woods. But, at this critical moment, the other 

 hound burst with a shrill savage cry, and a wild 

 bound, upon the struggling group. Sinking his teeth 

 to the jaw bone in the wolf, he tore her fiercely from 

 his master. Turning to grapple with this new foe, 

 she gave Cheney opportunity to gather himself up, 

 and fight to better advantage. At length, by a well- 

 directed blow, he crushed in the skull, which finished 

 the work. After this he got his pistol made. 



