HORSES ATTACKED. 227 



enemy. The former, finding themselves unable to keep 

 up with the band, commenced kicking at their pursuers, 

 several of which received some severe blows ; but these 

 being reinforced by others, they would have shortly des- 

 patched the horses had not we, just in time, emerged 

 from our place of concealment, and discharged a volley 

 at the enemy's centre, by which a few were brought down. 

 The whole battalion instantly wheeled about, and fled to- 

 wards the hills in the utmost disorder; while the horses, 

 on hearing the fire, changed their course and galloped up 

 to us. Our appearance saved several of them from the 

 fangs of their foes ; and by their neighing they seemed 

 to express their joy and gratitude at our timely inter- 

 ference. 



Although the wolves of North America are the most 

 daring of all the beasts of prey on that continent, they 

 are by no means so courageous or ferocious as those of 

 Europe, particularly in Spain or the south of France, 

 in which countries they commit dreadful ravages, both 

 on man and beast:* whereas, an American wolf, except 

 forced by desperation, will seldom or never attack a hu- 



* During the late Peninsular war, the Duke of Wellington had oc- 

 casion to send despatches by a mounted dragoon, to a general of di- 

 vision not quite a day's march distant from headquarters. The 

 answer not having arrived at the period it was expected, his Grace 

 jesputched three others to ascertain the cause. They found the 

 mangled remains of their unfortunate comrade lying beside those of 

 his horse, and the greater portion of the flesh eaten off their bodies. 

 His sword was firmly grasped in his mutilated hand, and the dead 

 carcasses of seven or eight wolves which lay about him, exhibited 

 strong marks of the sabre, and of the desperation with which he 

 fought before he was overpowered by numbers. 



