198 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



keys m,iy be seen flying among the trees away from the 

 spot ; deer in flocks, sweeping round the ring, under an 

 incessant fire, panting and exhausted. When thus 

 pressed, it is difficult to detain them long within the 

 ring. They become desperate, and make for the line at 

 full speed. If the men are too numerous and resolute 

 to give way, they leap over their heads, and all the 

 sticks, pitchforks, and guns, raised to oppose them. By 

 a concert of the regular hunters, gaps are sometimes 

 made purposely to allow them to escape. The wolf is 

 now seen skulking through the bushes, hoping to escape 

 observation by concealment. If bear are driven in, they 

 dash through the brush in a rage, from one part to an- 

 other, regardless of the shower of bullets playing upon 

 them. After the game appears to be mostly killed, a 

 few good marksmen and dogs scour the ground within 

 the circle, to stir up what may be concealed or wounded. 

 This over, they advance again to the centre, with a 

 shout, dragging along the carcasses which have fallen, 

 for the purpose of making a count. 



It was at the hunt in Portage, that the bear were either 

 exterminated or driven away from this vicinity. It em- 

 braced the "Perkins' Swamp," and several smaller ones, 

 rendered passable by ice. At the close of this "drive" 

 twenty -six were brought to the centre ground and others 

 reported. 



Wolves were taken with difficulty in steel traps, but 

 more readily in log pens, prepared like the roof of a 

 house, shelving inwards on all sides, and containing the 

 half devoured carcass of a sheep, upon which they had 

 made a previous meal. The wolf easily clambered up 



