430 THE EASTEEN HUNTERS. 



detour to avoid the riders ; but when once past, 

 again set off in the general direction of those nearest 

 in front. 



The hunters watched them till concealed by a 

 dip in the hills ; and it appeared to them that the 

 wolves were hunting, not like a pack of hounds all 

 striving to carry the scent, but acting on a combined 

 and settled plan of assistance one to the other. 

 There was no racing to be first, but a determined 

 prosecution of the pursuit, without any contentious 

 jealousy. Each seemed ready for his share of the 

 work when, from fatigue or a change of direction in 

 the flight of the gazelles, the leading wolf should 

 give up the running, or be thrown out. This was 

 probably the reason of their keeping separate, so 

 that advantage might at once be taken of any 

 bending of the game to either flank. Perhaps those 

 in the rear, also, were recruiting their strength after 

 having surrendered to others the leading place. 



The wolves were making no desperate efforts to 

 close at once with the chase. It was evidently 

 their intention to wear out the strength of the deer 

 by long-continued exertion the only way in which 

 so fleet a creature could be outrun. Apparently, 

 they were hunting from view, and not from 

 scent ; or perhaps rather, a combination of both. 



The horsemen again viewed them as they re- 



