I2 4 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



repeated until she passed all the streams. The result was that 

 the hounds frequently lost sight of her, or were puzzled on the 

 trail ; and were we not mounted, so that we could see her 

 movements, she would, in all probability, have escaped them, 

 owing- to the lead she obtained by these delays. We, however, 

 were able to make a straight cast as soon as we overtook the 

 pack ; but they were so stubborn that their huntsman had 

 some difficulty in getting them to obey him and leave their 

 puzzling for the direct trail, they seeming to consider that 

 they knew their own business better than he did. When one 

 responded, however, the others followed its lead, and they were 

 streaming away again in a short time with renewed energy. 

 The chase continued over a rough piece of country for four or 

 five miles, then into a beautiful stretch of gently undulating 

 grass-clad prairie, and over this we had a splendid view of it, 

 until it finally disappeared in a coppice of poplars. Our steeds 

 were too much pumped to do more than keep in sight of the 

 dogs after the first few miles; still they had endurance, and 

 we were able to follow at a hand gallop during the entire run. 



When we reached the coppice we found the wolf dead and 

 her throat torn open, while the hounds were licking her 

 wounds. The swift creature had evidently sought rest and 

 refuge there ; and having become stiffened by the halt, was 

 unable to escape her merciless pursuers when they reached 

 it. On examining her we found that she was a splendid 

 animal, evidently about four years old, and that she was 

 in excellent condition for running, the suckling of the young- 

 sters having relieved her of all unnecessary flesh, without 

 having weakened her too much. 



My companion having taken her skin and tied it on his 

 saddle behind him, we called at a rancher's cabin to get two 



' ~ 



sacks in which to bring home the cubs, and having procured 

 these, we returned to the hill where the youngsters were con- 

 cealed. On the way back he told me that wolves cubbed in 

 May, and had from four to nine in a litter. The whole care of 

 rearing them depended on the mother, and she was a good 

 type of a faithful guardian and provider, and had string 

 maternal affection, as much, if not more, than the dog. 



