308 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR AVEST. 



meat Avas tainted, and the greater part of it devoured 

 by vultures. We stretched the skins, in the hope 

 that the wind, Avith the help of a faint sun, which 

 was peering bashfully through the clouds, might dry 

 them. 



As it grew late, and we had no other provisions 

 than bread and salt, we set off with the dogs to look 

 for turkeys, and came upon a gang just as they were 

 making themselves comfortable for the night. We 

 killed two, and might ^have shot more, but did not 

 wish to increase the quantity of decaying meat in the 

 neighborhood. On this account we removed our 

 camp about half a mile off, stretched our blankets to 

 keep off a light drizzling rain, hobbled the horses, and fed 

 them with maize. The wolves made a dreadful noise 

 all night at our old quarters. In the morning the 

 rain held up, and the clouds separated a little ; so I 

 set off to try and steal a march on them, and spoil 

 their howling. The leaves were wet, and going round 

 to gain the wind, I crept for about two hundred yards 

 on my knees up to a large tree, and counted eight of 

 them. Although they were to windward of me, one 

 of them raised his head and began snuffing the air, 

 then turned sharp round, and they all made off with 

 their peculiar long gallop for the bush. Now was my 

 time or never ; I aimed at one of the largest, which 

 covered another with its body. When the smoke 

 cleared away, not a wolf was to be seen ; they had 

 vanished like magic — but following up the trail, I 

 found one dead, and signs of another being wounded; 

 but I found nothing more of the latter, — he was prob- 



