THE WOLF OF MUSKOKA 135 



we fell in with a wolf, following a man with a 

 rifle on his shoulders. On speaking to him 

 about the animal, he assured us that it was as 

 tame and gentle as any dog, and that he had 

 never met with a dog that could trail a deer 

 better. We were so much struck with this 

 account and the noble appearance of the wolf, 

 that we offered him one hundred dollars for it ; 

 but the owner would not part at any price." 



It is difficult to describe the savage voice of 

 a hungry wolf. It might be likened to something 

 between the dismal moaning of a watch-dog on 

 a moonlight night, and the baying of a deer- 

 hound running on a strong scent. During a 

 winter trip to the Indians (1889) I had an 

 exciting and dangerous night adventure. The 

 wolves followed me for several hours, and I could 

 distinguish their dark forms upon the ice at 

 one time only a hundred yards away. Whether 

 they were pursuing me for my Indian ponies 

 or myself, I cannot say. 



I have seen hybrids, the offspring of the wolf 

 and the cur dog, and also their mixed broods, 

 some of which resemble the wolf, and others 

 the dog. These cross-bred wolves prove valuable 

 for bear-hunting, and the Indians use them for 



