THE WOLF OF MUSKOKA 145 



Wolves are very destructive to sheep and 

 cattle in the neighbourhoods where they abound, 

 and, more for the craving for horseflesh than 

 for human flesh, they will follow a sleigh for 

 miles. An old pioneer settler told me of an 

 exciting scene he once witnessed, between an 

 Indian pony and a small pack of wolves ; and as 

 this story has never been published, and I believe 

 is probable, I will repeat it. 



" The pursuers and pursued were drawing 

 closer, and, as I watched, one horse stumbled 

 and fell. A huge wolf immediately sprang at his 

 throat, and, before he could regain his feet, the 

 sharp teeth were buried in his flesh. After a 

 fierce struggle the wolf was shaken off, and then 

 followed a brief but terrible battle. Striking out 

 bravely and desperately with fore and hind legs, 

 he rolled many a would-be assailant far away 

 from his reach. Each time a wolf sprang, he 

 would tear away with his teeth a piece of living 

 flesh, and streams of blood flowed from many 

 ugly wounds. The wolves were more than once 

 held at bay : two or three, badly hurt, were to be 

 seen limping off to a safe distance, where, with 

 white glittering teeth and skulking gait, they 

 joined with the rest in circling round their victim. 



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