THE WOLF OF MUSKOKA 181 



turned, and now the chase was crossing us half 

 a mile away. With whip and spur we flew 

 towards them, our two greyhounds stretching 

 out in front and leaving us as if we were standing 

 still, the track-hounds and big dogs running 

 after them just ahead of the horses. Fortu- 

 nately the wolf plunged for a moment into a 

 little brushy hollow and again doubled back, and 

 this gave us a chance to see the end of the 

 chase near by. The two greyhounds which had 

 first taken up the pursuit were then but a short 

 distance behind. Nearer they crept, until they 

 were within ten yards, and then with a tre- 

 mendous race the little bitch ran past him and 

 inflicted a vicious bite in the big beast's ham. 

 He whirled round like a top and his jaws clashed 

 like those of a sprung bear-trap, but, quick though 

 he was, she was quicker and just cleared his 

 savage rush. In another moment he resumed his 

 flight at full speed, a speed which only that of 

 the greyhounds exceeded : but almost immediately 

 the second greyhound ranged alongside, and 

 though he was not able to bite, because the 

 wolf kept running with its head turned around 

 threatening him, yet by his feints he delayed 

 the beast's flight so that in a moment or two 



