110 THE PINE-TREE, OR 



Some of the teamsters were much alarmed, keepmg close to 

 the oxen, and driving on as fast as possible. Others, more cour- 

 ageous, would run toward and strike at them with their goad- 

 sticks ; but the wolves sprang out of the way in an instant. But, 

 although they seemed to act without a motive, there was some- 

 thing so cool and impudent in their conduct that it was trying 

 to the nerves — even more so than an active encounter. For 

 some time after this, fire-arms were a constant part of the team- 

 ster's equipage. No further molestation, however, was had from 

 them that season. 



One of my neighbors related, in substance, the following inci- 

 dents : " A short time since," said he, " while passing along the 

 shores of the Mattawamkeag River in the winter, my attention 

 was suddenly attracted by a distant howling and screaming — a 

 noise which might remind one of the screeching of forty pair of 

 old cart-wheels (to use the figure of an old hunter in describing 

 the distant howling of a pack of wolves). Presently there came 

 dashing from the forest upon the ice, a short distance from me, 

 a timid deer, closely pursued by a hungry pack of infuriated 

 wolves. I stood and observed them. The order of pursuit was 

 in single file, until they came quite near their prey, when they 

 suddenly branched off to the right and left, forming two lines ; 

 the foremost gradually closed in upon the poor deer, until he was 

 completely surrounded, when, springing upon their victim, they 

 instantly bore hira to the ice, and in an incredibly short space 

 of time devoured him, leaving the bones only ; after which they 

 galloped into the forest and disappeared." On the same river a 

 pack of these prowling marauders were seen just at night, trail- 

 ing along down river on the ice. A family living in a log house 

 near by happened to have some poison, with which they satu- 

 rated some bits of meat, and then threw them out upon the ice. 

 Next morning early the meat was missing, and, on making a 

 short search in the vicinity, six wolves w^ere found " dead as 



