1 46 A SPORTING PARADISE 



So wonderfully did the pony sustain the unequal 

 fight, that every minute I expected to see him 

 make a break for liberty. 



" The danger of my own position now became 

 apparent, so I began to consider the wisdom of 

 remaining. To descend was dangerous, but to 

 remain seemed more so. In turning my head in 

 different directions, my attention was drawn away 

 from the fight in the swamp ; but when I looked 

 again my horse was still standing. One dead 

 wolf, with his skull smashed to a pulp, lay at a 

 short distance as the result of another attack ; 

 but blood was flowing so freely, that the move- 

 ments of the poor creature had become slow and 

 painful. It was evident that he would soon 

 perish from loss of blood. Each time the wolves 

 made a rush he bowed his neck, turned back his 

 ears, and, half-facing round, showed his teeth to 

 bite. His heels, too, were driven out with a 

 force and spirit that threatened destruction to his 

 murderers. 



u The mode of attack appeared pre-arranged, 

 no two wolves rushing forward from the same 

 vantage-ground, so that, though some were struck, 

 the majority succeeded in wrenching off the flesh 

 from their doomed victim. The sight was dis- 



