128 
BLACK AMERICAN WOLF. 
wild poi'tions of the country, toward the Wolf, as his strength, agility, and 
cunning, (in which last qualification, he is scarcely inferior to his relative, 
the fox,) tend to render him the most destructive enemy of their pigs, 
sheep, or young calves, which range in the forest ; therefore, in our coun- 
try, he is not more mercifully dealt with than in any other part of the 
world. Traps and snares of various sorts are set for catching him in those 
districts in which he still abounds. Being- more fleet and perhaps better 
winded than the fox, the Wolf is seldom pursued with hounds or any 
other dogs in open chase, unless wounded. Although Wolves are bold 
and savage, few instances occur in our temperate regions of their making 
an attack on man ; and we have only had one such case come under 
our own notice. Two young negroes, who resided near the banks of the 
Ohio, in the lower part of the State of Kentucky, about thirty years ago, 
had sweethearts living on another plantation, four miles distant. After 
the labours of the day were over, they frequentty visited the fair ladies of 
their choice, the nearest way to whose dwelling lay directly across a large 
cane brake. As to the lover every moment is precious, they usually took 
this route to save time. Winter had set in cold, dark and gloomy, and after 
sunset scarcely a glimpse of light or glow of warmth were to be found 
in that dreary swamp, except in the eyes and bosoms of the ardent youths 
who traversed these gloomy solitudes. One night, they set forth over a 
thin crust of snow. Prudent, to a certain degree, the 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 in 
the more open spaces between the trees, or when the heavy drifting clouds 
parting at times allowed a star to peep forth on the desolate scene. Fear- 
fully, a long and frightful howl burst upon them, and they were instantly 
aware that it proceeded from a troop of hungry and perhaps desperate 
wolves. They paused for a moment and a dismal silence succeeded. All 
was dark, save a few feet of the snow-covered ground immediately in front 
of them. They resumed their pace hastily, with their axes in their hands 
prepared for an attack. Suddenly, the foremost man was assailed by 
several wolves which seized on him, and inflicted terrible wounds with 
their fangs on his legs and arms, and as they were followed by many 
others as ravenous as themselves, several sprung at the breast of his 
companion, and dragged him to the ground. Both struggled manfully 
against their foes, but in a short time one of the negroes had ceased to 
move ; and the other, reduced in strength and perhaps despairing of aiding 
his unfortunate comrade or even saving his own life, threw down his axe, 
sprang on to the branch of a ti-ee, and speedily gained a place of safety 
amid the boughs. Here he passed a miserable night, and the next morn- 
