374 THE WOLVERINE. 



though the Indian advanced within twenty yards, 

 he still refused to abandon his capture, and even 

 suffered himself to be shot on the fallen animal. 

 They have also been frequently seen to take a Deer 

 from a Wolf, before the latter had time to begin his 

 repast after killing it. Indeed their amazing strength, 

 and the length and sharpness of their claws, render 

 them capable of making a strong resistance against 

 every other animal of their own country. 



As a proof of their surprizing strength, there 

 was one at Churchill, on Hudson's Bay, some years 

 since, that overset the greatest part of a pile of wood 

 which measured upwards of seventy yards round 

 and contained a whole winter's firing, to get at 

 some provisions that had been hidden there by the 

 Company's servants when going to the Factory to 

 spend the Christmas Holidays. This animal had 

 for many weeks been lurking about the neighbour- 

 hood of their tent : and had committed many de- 

 predations on the game caught in their traps and 

 snares, as well as eaten many of the Foxes that were 

 killed by guns set for the purpose ; but he was too 

 cunning to take either trap or gun himself. The 

 people thought they had adopted the most effectual 

 method to secure their provisions, by tying them 

 up in bundles, and placing them on the top of the 

 wood-pile. They could not suppose the Wolverine 

 would even have found out where they were ; 

 and much less that he could get at them if he did 

 discover them. To their astonishment, however, 

 when they returned, they found the greatest part 



