54 



THE WOLF. 



proach very quietly towards the herd, who are 

 grazing without suspecting any danger, and make 

 not the least noise for fear of alarming them, 

 until they have completely enclosed them on all 

 sides, except that towards the precipice; and 

 when this is fairly done, they begin to run, set- 

 ting up a furious yell, which at once startles the 

 Deer, and makes them fly in the only direction 

 which is open to them, and where, unknown to 

 themselves, poor things, they must meet with 

 certain destruction. For those of the Deer that 

 are behind, in their terror and anxiety to get 

 away, push on those that are foremost, until they 

 fall over the precipice, and many are dashed to 

 pieces. The wolves then go round to the bottom 

 by another way, and devour the fallen carcasses 

 at their leisure. 



The engraving represents a desperate chase of 

 a noble Deer by a pack of famished Wolves. He 

 thinkS; he has found a refuge for as he reaches 

 the ridge of a line of low-lying hills, the river 

 bursts upon his view, and, as if his strength was 

 renewed by the sight, he increases his speed 

 toward its friendly banks. But his eager pur- 

 suers have seen it also, and, perceiving his inten- 

 tion, redouble their efforts to overtake him 

 before he can jslunge into the stream. And now 

 the bank is gained, when, alas ! instead of the 

 wished-for water, a wide expanse of glistening 

 ice stretches away far toward the centre of the 

 river, leaving comparatively but a narrow chan- 

 nel tln'ough which the crowded waters are seen 

 to flow. For a moment the gallant animal liesi- 

 tates, but his enemies, thirsting for his blood, 



are near him now ; another moment and it will 

 be too late ; so with the energy of despair he 

 springs from the bank, just escaping a vicious 

 snap from the jaws of the nearest Wolf, and 

 alights upon the smooth ice, which, breaking 

 beneath his weight, drops him struggling into 

 the deep water. Some of the more eager Wolves 

 follow him in his. leap, and are subm urged with 

 him. One receives a blow from the sharp hoof, 

 which lays him helpless upon his back, to be 

 swept away beneath the river's icy shroud ; an- 

 other turns tail and makes for the bank, the 

 ohilly bath having cooled his ardor ; while the 

 pack squat upon the shore, howling their disap- 

 pointment as they watch the Deer's frantic efforts 

 to free himself from his new danger. By des- 

 perate plunges he breaks the ice in front of him 

 with his fore-feet, and pushes it away toward the 

 clear water. Gradually the distance from his 

 enemies and the shore increases, and now but a 

 single cake intervenes between him and safety. 

 Half rising, he places his fore-feet upon it, and 

 pushing it aside, opens a channel, through which 

 he floats into the open stream. Well and bravely 

 done ! At his ease he swims with the current, 

 while the Wolves, with many a vengeful whine, 

 watch him and follow him along the opposite 

 shore, some even venturing on ice that bears 

 their weight ; until at last, perceiving a curve of 

 the bank where the ice is narrow, he pushes 

 through, and, dripping with water, slowly mounts 

 the friendly shore, and seeks some concealed 

 place where he may regain his strength in peace. 



