THE WOLF OF MUSKOKA 137 



part of Muskoka this is believe it is Freeman's 

 Land " (i.e. anybody's land). 



The following is the trapper's wolf-story : 

 "The sleigh was difficult to jam from the 

 inside to prevent attacks from wild beasts or 

 Indians. I was very exhausted after I had 

 completed my arrangements, and did not trouble 

 to light a fire, finding the cave comfortable after 

 the cold night air. There was a large heap of 

 dry leaves, and these I shovelled together to make 

 a bed, and it was not long before I fell asleep. 



" Lying back some twenty yards from the 

 cavern's entrance, the wild sounds of night were 

 inaudible. Had it been otherwise, my slumbers 

 would not have been peaceful. A pack of 

 hungry wolves, unable to overtake the swift deer 

 while the snow's crust continued in its present 

 state, had scented me out as an intruder upon 

 their domains, and like a horde of furies had 

 rushed along my trail until they ran me to earth 

 at the cave. Had I opened my eyes during that 

 dark night I should have seen innumerable bright 

 fiery eyes peering through the openings of my 

 frail barrier. I was, however, so overcome by 

 weariness, that the usual nervous restlessness of 

 conscious danger did not trouble me. I believed 



