WOLF DAYS IN PENNSYLVANIA. 47 



bridle paths and through unbroken forest. He was on 

 horseback. By the most direct route, the distance to 

 his destination, where a sick patient waited, was about 

 eighteen miles. A few days before the doctor made 

 this memorable trip a severe storm of wind and rain 

 had uprooted a large tree which fell across the narrow 

 path he followed in its sinuous course. In attempting. 

 to ride around the obstruction the man got off the right 

 road and took a path which led, after several miles had 

 been covered, into a large swamp or bog where great 

 beds of gigantic buck laurel or rhododendrons flour- 

 ished. In this dismal place the doctor's horse was 

 mired, his legs sinking into the sticky black and wet 

 mud up to the poor creature's belly. 



The physician worked several hours to extricate the 

 animal, but failed, and as darkness was approaching 

 the horse was abandoned by the owner after removing 

 the bridle and saddle-bags ; the latter were carried on 

 the doctor's shoulders. With this burden, and no food, 

 the man started to walk to' his destination, many miles 

 off, and in a direction of which he was uncertain. 



About 10 o'clock at night — air cool, stars bright — 

 the hungry wandering man was startled by the distant 

 cries of a pack of gaunt and hungry wolves, which he 

 soon discovered were rapidly following on his trail. 

 Knowing the danger of these fierce brutes, he stopped 

 and at once prepared to defend himself. A stout cane 

 or club was quickly cut and leggin of heavy material 

 was speedily pulled from his trembling leg. On this 

 cloth a quantity of the stronger ammonia water was 



