272 
THE WOLF. 
ney look a little hurt. “ Of course I don’t 
mean any thing important.” 
The panther was duly admired; and Eras- 
tus had to tell over once more how he had 
found him in a tree and killed him with 
one shot. 
“So you did not go with the others?” 
said Miss Winston. 
“No,” replied the old man, slowly, and 
smiling in his dry way. “ There’s so many 
of them, and they make such a noise, I 
thought I should do about as well by my¬ 
self.” 
“I am glad he is disposed of,” remarked 
Mr. Winston ; “ and I hope his mate, if he 
had one, will take the hint 'and leave the 
country. I cannot think how they came to 
stray down here at this time of year.” 
“ They travel a long way sometimes, like 
wolves,” said Erastus; “but both have been 
rare game in this part of the country of late 
years,—though they were plenty enough 
when you and I first came into these parts, 
’squire, and for some time after. I suppose 
you do not remember hearing them, do you, 
Miss Louisa?” 
“ Oh, yes,” replied Miss Winston, smiling. 
