Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-09-04

ger pressed closely on the trigger -gufd. He
lowered it again, as though he had los. sight of
his obect--raised it again with great rapidity,
and fired. My eye was on the muzze of his
piece, and Just as the bright stream Of fame
glanced from it, distinctly visible in the dim of
morning twilight, before my ear had caught the
sound of the report sharp long snarI rose from
the thicket, announcing that wolf was wound
ed Eagerly, keeDly did lsteni Int there
came no further sound to tell me of his wherea-
bout 8
Il hit him. shouted Garry, a hits'iaaSs Sshon,
swon; but guess not 50 badly but a6SEn tyav-
ell still. Look out you, Archer, he's sqaatted in
the thick there, and won't stir till they get close
top on him.
While he was yet speaking, loud and start
ling shout arose from the open field, announcing
to my ear upon the instant that one or more had
broken covert at some unguarded spot as it was
evident from the absence of any firing. The
leader of our squad was clearly Of the same
opinion for, motoning to US to spread our line
n little wider, he galIoped off at tremendous
rate, spurning the snow balls high into the air,
accompanied by three Of his best men, to stop the
gap which had been left through the msappre-
hension of the Jerseyman.
This he accomplished; but not until the great
wolf, wilier :han his comrades, had got off un.
harmed. He had not moved five minutes before
small dark bitch.wolf broke away through our
line, at the angle furthest from my station, and
drew scattering volley from more than half our
men-too rapid and too random to be deadly
though several of the balls struck close about
her, thought she had got off scot free !; but jim
McDaniel--whom you know-a cool, old steady
hand, had held out his fire, and taking long
quiet aim, lodged his ball fairly in the centre of
her shoulders-over she went, and over, tearing
the snow with tooth and claw in her death ago.
ny while fancying, suppose, that all our guns
were empted-for, by my lfe | think the crafty
brates can almost reason-out popped two more
J one between me and my right hand man-the
J other, a large dog, dragging wounded leg be.
hind him. under my horses very feet. Bob made
curious demi.volte, do assure you, as the
dark brinded villain darted between his fOrelegs
with an angry snarl; but at 0. single word and
slight admontion of the curb, stood motionless
as though he had been carved in marble. Quick.
ly brought up my rife, though steadily enough,
and.--more, fancy1by good luck than manage
ment-p planted ny bulllet in the yecf, just where
, the skull and spine unite, 30 tint ha bounced
I three feet at least above the fsA Esr6~s, and
fell quite dead within twelve PAGES o. the covert
The other wolf, which had crept out to my
right hand, was welcomed by the almost stimuli
taneous fire of three pieces, only one of which
lodged its bullet, small one by the way--only
eighty or ninety to the pound too light entirely
to tell Story in the brute's lons.
He gave savage yell enough as the shot told,
and for the first twenty or thirty yards dragged
his hind quarters heavily; but, as he went on,
he recovered, gathering headway very rapidly
: over the little ridge and through the open wood
land, toward a clear field on the mountains brow.
Just as this passed, dozen shots were fired, in
quick running volIey, from the thlcket, just
where an old cart-way divides it; followed, af-
ter moments pause by one full, round report,
: which thought to be the voice of old TOMS
musket; nor did err, for, while its echoes were
yet vocal in the leadess forest, the owners jovi-
d al shout was heard
g wiped all your eyes, boys all OF them, by
the Etarnal! Who-whoop for our side and I'll
u bet horns for all on US, old eather-breeches has
II killed his'n.'
u This passed so rapidly-in factit was all near
It y simultaneously that the fourth wolf was YET
J. in sight, when the last shot was fired. We all
: knew well enough that the main object of our
) chase had for the time escaped US the game
'e was all atoot three of them slain already
u nor was there any longer aught to be gained by
u sticking to our stations. So, more for the devil
y try than from entertaing any real hope of over
III taking him, | chucked my rifle to the nearest Of
" the farmers, touched old Bob with the spur, and
1t went away on hard gallop after the wounded
~ fugitive, who was now plodding onward at the
Ill usual long loping canter of his tribe. For abou
half mile the wood was open, and slo7ed gen
ID ty upward, until it joined the open country
Up where it was bounded by a high rugged fence
ID made in the usual snake fasho6 WE. huge
We heavy top.ral. This we soon reached; the wolf
Oh which was more hurt than had fanCied, begin
o. ming to lag previously crept through it scarcel
hs hundred yards ahead of me, and, by good luck
OF at spot where the top rail had been dislodged
x so that Bob swept over it, almost without an ef
~ fort, in his gallop; though it presented an I'm
ID penetrable rampant to some half dozen OF th
w horsemen who had followed. / was now IN
cleared lot of some ten acres, forming the sum
nd init of the hill, which, father on, sunk steep.
up into dark ravine full of thick brushwood, witt
ly small verge of thinly growing copPice not NOR
ne than twenty yards in width, on toerabiy leve
ed ground, within the low stone-wall which parte
as it from the cultivated land. | felt that wa
'S' now upon my vantage ground and you may b
ne sure, Frank, that spared not the spurs; but tn
ng wolf conscious probably of the vicinity OF som
S place of safety, strained every nerve, and ran,
Ill fact, as if he had been almost unwOunded s
on that he was still twelve or fourteen PAGES trot
all me when he jumped upon the wall.
10 Once over this, well knew he was safe; tc
ne I was thoroughly acquainted with the grount
ne and was of course aware that no horse coul
ell descend the banks of its precipitous ravine.
Oh this predicament, thought might as well tax
ne chance at him with one of my good pistol
ne though of course with faint hopes of touchln
DC him. However, pulled out the right hand min
0S' inch barrel, took a quick sight and let drive
ur him and. much to my delight, the sound Wa