THE BATTUE ON BOND A KEY. 123 



At the place we had now reached, the island was not more than 

 a quarter of a mile in width. The trees had ceased to grow, and 

 only a few copses of willow were found in the hollow between 

 the ridges, and the tall grass that lined the pond. "We could see 

 the negroes away hither and thither, chasing the swamp raccoons 

 that seemed to overrun the island, and striking at the hares that 

 dodged hither and thither, and, escaping the men, were sure to 

 run directly in the mouths of the dogs. 



Ahead of us we could see the deer coursing over the knolls, 

 hard pushed by the dogs, that had separated, and were each hunting 

 on his own hook. 



" There 's Yowler and Music. Here they come — they are after 

 the wolf. Hi, dogs ! hi, dogs ! " shouted Jackson, running to a knoll 

 where he could overlook the chase. 



The negroes yelled as they caught sight of the game and the 

 wolf, availing himself of every copse and hollow, ran on, hard 

 pushed by the dogs, and dodging on every side to avoid his 

 numerous foes. Whenever he entered a thicket he remained there 

 until the dogs were about entering the other side ; then he dashed 

 away with an angry snap of his jaws that sounded like the ring of 

 metal. As he approached the farther shore, the Doctor saluted 

 him with a double shot that stung him badly. He passed down 

 the line of negroes, but their shouting and dancing deterred him 

 from attempting to break their array. 



" Now, Mike ! " 



" No, no ; it is your turn ; I 've had a cat." 



" Take him, Charlie ! " 



I levelled my rifle, and as he ran I fired. At the report he 

 rolled over and over like a ball. 



" Well done ! " shouted Lou Jackson. 



I thought him quite dead, but when the dogs came up where 

 he fell, he turned around on his haunches and snapped at his 

 pursuers with such effect that the foremost lost a piece from his 

 shoulder as broad as my palm, leaving a ghastly wound. The dog 

 turned away, yelling with pain. Wag, who was always in every 

 scrape, received another nip, sufficient to put him on the sick list 

 for the rest of the day, and doubtless some of the other dogs 



