I 



500 



AUDUBON 



peeped in and saw the Wolves, two black, and the other 

 brindled, all of goodly size, sure enough. They lay flat 

 on the earth, their ears laid close over the head, their 

 eyes indicating fear more than anger. " But how are we 

 to get them out.'" "How, sir.'" said the farmer; "why, 

 by going down, to be sure, and hamstringing them." Be- 

 ing a novice in these matters, I begged to be merely a 

 looker-on. "With all my heart," quoth the farmer; 

 "stand here and look at me through the brush." Where- 

 upon he glided down, taking with him his axe and knife, 

 and leaving his rifle to my care. I was not a little sur- 

 prised to see the cowardice of the Wolves. He pulled 

 out successively their hind legs, and with a side stroke of 

 the knife cut the principal tendon above the joint, exhib- 

 iting as little fear as if he had been marking lambs. 



" Lo ! " exclaimed the farmer, when he had got out, 

 "we have forgotten the rope; I'll go after it." Off he 

 went accordingly, with as much alacrity as any youngster 

 could show. In a short time he returned out of breath, 

 and wiping his forehead with the back of his hand — 

 "Now for it." I was desired to raise and hold the plat- 

 form on its central balance, whilst he, with all the dex- 

 terity of an Indian, threw a noose over the neck of one of 

 the Wolves. We hauled it up motionless with fright, as 

 if dead, its disabled legs swinging to and fro, its jaws 

 wide open, and the gurgle in its throat alone indicating 

 that it was alive. Letting him drop on the ground, the 

 farmer loosened the rope by means of a stick, and left 

 him to the dogs, all of which set upon him with great fury 

 and soon worried him to death. The second was dealt 

 with in the same manner; but the third, which was prob- 

 ably the oldest, as it was the blackest, showed some spirit 

 the moment it was left loose to the mercy of the curs. 

 This Wolf, which we afterwards found to be a female, 

 scuffled along on its fore-legs at a surprising rate, giving 

 a snap every now and then to the nearest dog, which went 



