WARWICK WOODLANDS. 135 



spine unite, so that he bounced three feet at least above 

 the frozen snow, and fell quite dead, within twelve paces 

 of the covert. The other wolf, which had crept out to 

 my right hand, was welcomed by the almost simultaneous 

 fire of three pieces, one of which only lodged its bullet, 

 a small one by the way — eighty or ninety only to the 

 pound — too light entirely to tell a story, in the brute's 

 loins. 



"He gave a savage yell enough as the shot told; and, 

 for the first twenty or thirty yards, dragged his hind 

 quarters heavily; but, as he went on, he recovered, gather- 

 ing headway very rapidly over the little ridge, and through 

 the open woodland, toward a clear field on the mountain's 

 brow. Just as this passed, a dozen shots were fired, in a 

 quick running volley, from the thicket, just where an old 

 cart-way divides it; followed, after a moment's pause, by 

 one full, round report, which I knew instantly to be the 

 voice of old Tom's musket; nor did I err, for, while its 

 echoes were yet vocal in the leafless forest, the owner's 

 jovial shout was heard — 



" 'Wiped all your eyes, boys ! all of them, by the Etarn- 

 al — Who-whoop for our side! — and I'll bet horns for all 

 on us, old leather-breeches has killed his'n.' 



"This passed so rapidly — in fact it was all nearly simul- 

 taneous — that the fourth wolf was yet in sight, when the 

 last shot was fired. We all knew well enough that the 

 main object of our chase had for the time escaped us! — 

 the game was all afoot! — three of them slain already; nor 

 was there any longer aught to be gained by sticking to our 

 stations. So, more for deviltry than from entertaining any 

 real hope of overtaking him, I chucked my rifle to the 

 nearest of the farmers, touched old Bob with the spur, 

 and went on a hard gallop after the wounded fugitive, 

 who was now plodding onward at the usual long loping 

 canter of his tribe. For about half a mile the wood was 

 open, and sloped gently upward, until it joined the open 

 country, where it was bounded by a high rugged fence, 

 made in the usual snake fashion, with a huge heavy top- 

 rail. This we soon reached; the wolf, which was more 

 hurt than I had fancied, beginning to lag grievously, 

 crept through it scarcely a hundred yards ahead of me, 

 and, by good luck, at a spot where the top rail had been 



