340 PITTING OF WOLVES. 



he was now " paying them off in full ;" and added that if I would tarry 

 a few hours with him next morning, he would beyond a doubt shew me 

 some sport rarely seen in those parts. We retired to rest in due time^ 

 and were up with the dawn. 



" I think," said my host, " that all's right, for I see the dogs are 

 anxious to get away to the pits, and although they are nothing but curs, 

 their noses are none the worse for that." As he took up his gun, an 

 axe and a large knife, the dogs began to howl and bark, and whisked 

 around us, as if full of joy. When we reached the first pit, we found 

 the bait all gone, and the platform much injured ; but the animal that 

 had been entrapped had scraped a subterranean passage for himself and 

 so escaped. On peeping into the next, he assured me that " three fa- 

 mous fellows were safe enough" in it. I also 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 ham-stringing them." Being a novice in these matters, I beg- 

 ged to be merely a looker-on. " With all my heart," quoth the farmer, 

 " stand here, and look at me through the brush." Whereupon he glid- 

 ed down, taking with him his axe and knife, and leaving his rifle to 

 my care. I was not a little surprised 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, exhibiting as little fear as 

 if he had been marking lambs. 



" Lo !" exclaimed the farmer, when he had got out, " we have for- 

 got the rope ; I'll go after it." Off he went accordingly, with as much 

 alacrity as any youngster could shew. 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 platform on its central ba- 

 lance, whilst he, with all the dexterity 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 man- 

 ner ; but the third, which was probably the oldest, as it was the blackest. 



