140 A SPORTING PARADISE 



"Sometimes in blind agony and terror he fell 

 against me as I stood with hunting-knife in 

 hand to receive him. During these mad career- 

 ings his jaws were incessantly opened and shut 

 with a snap, as if he were striving to rend the 

 air he breathed. These bites into vacancy gave 

 me some nasty wounds, and had not my thick robes 

 protected me, I should have been seriously in- 

 jured. Whenever he came within my reach I 

 struck at him with the knife, stepping back as 

 I did so to avoid his bite. On one occasion I 

 knocked my head violently and staggered half- 

 stunned against the rock ; but the pain and 

 blood flowing from many wounds, prevented me 

 from becoming unconscious. Such a fight in 

 such a place, was terrible, and when his struggles 

 and breathing ceased I felt devoutly thankful. 



" There was no more sleep for me that night, 

 and even if I had felt so disposed, my wounds 

 throbbed too much to permit it. I spent much 

 time firing at the wolves outside, frequently 

 hearing a howl of pain denoting a wound. 



" With the first streak of dawn, every wolf 

 scampered off as though by a word of command. 

 Knowing that danger was now over, 1 thrust 

 the barrier aside, and let in the cold morning 



