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PITTING OF WOLVES. 



There seems to be a universal feeling of hostility among men against 

 the Wolf, whose strength, agility, and cunning, which latter is scarcely in- 

 ferior to that of his relative master Reynard, tend to render him an object of 

 hatred, especially to the husbandman, on whose flocks he is ever apt to 

 commit depredations. In America, where this animal was formerly abun- 

 dant, and in many parts of which it still occurs in considerable numbers, 

 it is not more mercifully dealt with than in other parts of the world. 

 Traps and snares of all sorts are set for catching it, while dogs and horses 

 are trained for hunting the Fox. The Wolf, however, unless in some way 

 injured, being more powerful and perhaps better winded than the Fox, is 

 rarely pursued with hounds or any other dogs in open chase ; but as his 

 depredations are at times extensive and highly injurious to the farmer, 

 the greatest exertions have been used to exterminate his race. Few in- 

 stances have occurred among us of any attack made by Wolves on man, 

 and only one has come under my own notice. 



Two young Negroes who resided near the banks of the Ohio, in the 

 lower part of the State of Kentucky, about twenty-three years ago, had 

 sweethearts living on a plantation ten miles distant. After the labours 

 of the day were over, they frequently visited the fair ladies of their choice, 

 the nearest way to whose dwelling lay directly across a great cane brake. 

 As to the lover every moment is precious, they usually took this route, 

 to save time. Winter had commenced, cold, dark, and forbidding, and 

 after sunset scarcely a ghmpse of hght or glow of warmth, one might im- 

 agine, could be found in that dreary swamp, excepting in the eyes 

 and bosoms of the ardent youths, or the hungry Wolves that prowled 

 about. The snow covered the earth, and rendered them more easy 

 to be scented from a distance by the famished beasts. Prudent in a 

 certain degree, the young lovers carried their axes on their shoulders, 

 and walked as briskly as the narrow path would allow. Some transient 

 glimpses of light now and then met their eyes, but so faint were they 

 that they believed them to be caused by their faces coming in contact 

 with the slender reeds covered with snow. Suddenly, however, a long 

 and frightful howl burst upon them, and they instantly knew that it 

 proceeded from a troop of hungry, perhaps desperate Wolves. They 



