JS'otes on Illinois, 



189 



t)f crossing, and when one of those unwieldy animals was so unfortunate as 

 to sink in the mire, spring suddenly upon it, and worry it to death, while 

 thus disabled from resistance. Their most common prey is the deer, which 

 they hunt regularly ; but all defenceless animals are alike acceptable to 

 their ravenous appetites. When tempted by hunger they approach the farm 

 houses in the night, and snatch their prey from under the very eye of the 

 farmer ; and when the latter is absent with his dogs, the wolf is sometimes 

 seen by the females lurking about in mid-day, as if aware of flie unprotected 

 state of the family. Our heroic females have som'etimes shot them under 

 such circumstances. 



The smell of burning assafoetida has a remarkable effect upon this animal. 

 If a fire be made in the woods, and a portion of this drug thrown into it, so 

 as to saturate the atmosphere with the odour, the wolves, if any are within 

 reach of the scent, immediately assemble around, howling in the most 

 mournful manner; and such is the remarkable fascination under which they 

 seem to labour, that they will often suffer themselves to be shot down rather 

 than quit the spot. 



Of the very few instances of their attacking human beings, of which we 

 have heard, the following may serve to give some idea of their habits. In 

 very early times, a negro man was passing in the night, in the lower part of 

 Kentucky, from one settlement to another. The distance was several miles, 

 and the country over which he travelled entirely unsettled. In the morning 

 his carcass was found entirely stripped of flesh. Near it lay his axe, covered 

 with blood, and all around the bushes were beaten down, the ground trodden, 

 and the number of foot tracks so great, as to show that the unfortunate victim 

 had fought long and manfully. On pursuing his track it appeared that the 

 wolves had pursued him for a considerable distance, he had often turned upon 

 them and driven them back. Several times they had attacked him, and been 

 repelled, as appeared by the blood and tracks. He had killed some of them, 

 before the final onset, and in the last conflict had destroyed several. His 

 axe was his only weapon. 



On another occasion, many years ago, a negro man, was going through 

 the woods, with no companion but his fiddle, when he discovered that a pack 

 of wolves were on his track. They pursued very cautiously, but a few of 

 them would sometimes dash up, and growl, as if impatient for their prey, 

 and then fall back again. As he had several miles to go, he became much 

 alarmed. He sometimes stopped, shouted, drove back his pursuers, and then 

 proceeded. The animals became more and more audacious, and would 

 probably have attacked him, had he not arrived at a deserted cabin, which 

 stood by the way side. Into this he rushed for shelter, and without waiting 

 to shut the door, climbed up and seated himself on the rafters. The wolves 

 dashed in after him, and becoming quite furious, howled, and leaped, and 

 endeavoured with every expression of rage to get to him. The moon was 

 now shining brightly, and Cuff being able to see his enemies, and satisfied 

 of his own safety, began to act on the offensive. Finding the cabin full of 

 them, he crawled down to the top of the door, which he shut and fastened. 

 Then removing some of the loose boards from the roof^ scattered them with 

 a tremendous clatter upon such of his foes as remained outside, who soon 

 scampered off, while those in the house began to crouch with fear. He had 

 now a large number of prisoners to stand guard over, until morning ; and 

 drawing forth his fiddle, he very good naturedly played for them all night, 

 very much, as he supposed, to their edification and amusement, for like all 

 genuine lovers of music, he imagined that it had power to soften the heart, 

 even of a wolf On the ensuing day, some of the neighbours assembled and 

 destroyed the captives, with great rejoicings. 



The prairie wolf, is a smaller species, wliich takes its name from its habit 

 t)f residing entirely upon the open plains. Even when hunted with dogs, it 



