Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-02-23
"REMINISCENCES OF AN ENGINEER.
a Wolf Chase.


We were engaged for some weeks
after the incidents mentioned, finishing
our "cross sectioniug," and just as our
work was completed, We received in
structions from headquarters, to con-
tlnue our survey from point about
thirty miles distant, and one fine morn
ing our wagons drove up to the farm
house, were quickly loaded with bag
gage and instruments, and away we
started Pete and myself availed our
selves of two saddle horses which were
hired for special service, and after pro-
viding ourselves with sandwiches, etc.
We trotted leisurely ahead of the wagons
and made bee line across country, for
our destination.
We had an unbroken stretch of
prairie before us and were delightfully."-
ignorant of the country we had to pass
through, but depended upon our pocket
compass to make matters right. An
old country ''Coolie" dog named
" Scottie insisted upon accompanying
Ms. he not paying the least heed to our
orders to ego home" We rode on for
several miles through cornfields, creeks
and sloughs, habitations being "few
and far between :" the prairie spread
ing out before us, green and level as
billiard table. j was enjoying to the
utmost the pleasant breeze and sun
sh ne, and the peculiar satisfaction of
riding "cross country" on a horse,
whose ambition increased at every
stride, when suddenly, I was startled
with, Look there, Charley, there goes
wolf. After him, Scottie !" One
glance was enough; the next moment
with simultaneous shout we were in hot
pursuit. The horses seemed to share our
excitement and we soon had to hold
them in, for we closed up rapidly with
dog and wolf, and although they both
travelled, / Judge we could have
overtaken them, but we preferred to
see the sport. Scottie had evidently
seen prairie wolves before, but this be-
ing large one and very savage, Scot
tie wisely kept Just out of reach of the
sidelong snaps the wolf made every
now and then at him. There was a
fine display of formidable teeth, and
neither animal seemed inclined to
throw away a chance. Suddenly the
dog, In response to our cry, "Seize
him, Scottie," made a rush, and with
a sharp bark seized the wolf by the leg,
and over they rolled They were on
their feet In a moment, Scottie having
the wolf by the throat, and both fight
ing for dear Life Scottie held on with
wonderful tenacity, maintaining his ad-
vantage without the least noise, al
though / saw that he had lost half his
left ear in the battle
The horses would not approach near
er, so we dismount d, and Pete endea-
vored to get a shot at the wolf with O
revolver. At this moment, by des-
perate effort, the wolf threw the dog,
and Pete, unable longer to restrain him
self. fired, and missed. They were so
mixed up that Pete's shot was danger
Gus alike to friend and enemy; the re-
port startled both animals, and the
wolf, taking advantage of the moment,
darted away In a new direction, and
away we went after him. had snatch
ed the revolver from Pete and fired sew
eral times to no effect, when the wolf
suddenly disappeared as if the earth
had swallowed him. Scottie went up
to the spot, and dismounting, we found
hole about a foot in diameter, down
which he had vanished. He had found
secure refuge; so having fairly "run
him to earth, " we left him, with many
kind wishes for his future safety
Scottie, evidently cherishing a grudge
against the uncivilized relative who
had deprived him of half his ear, very
reluctantly followed US.
We had deviated about half mile
from our course, but soon reached the
timber belt that had looked like little
cloud on the horizon an hour previous
ly. On emerging from the timber we
came unexpectedly upon a perfect para
disc for pic-nics; it was a natural
avenue over mile long, with maple,
oak and hickory trees, of a larger
growth than is usually met with in that
part Of the country, on either side, the
clear space being about three hundred
yards wide for the eutire length of the
valley, a small stream running In the
center as far as we could see. 1t was a
landscape gem of natures own painting.
We found cottage almost hidden by
the foliage of grand old naples. and
here we had a homely but substantial
dinner and fed the horses, and after
wards made the remaining distance in
about an hoAr.
Our new location was a farmhouse
situated upon Euoll and sur
rounded by trees. The farm was
extensive and well cultivated, and
after putting up our horses we were in
yited by our new host, Mr.. Brady, to
have look round and help him exter-
inmate some rabbits, which were lust
then very plentiful and destructive; SO
with gun apiece and two dogs, we
went towards an inclosed patch. near
which were a number eff wood-piles.
Almost as soon as we reached the Usage
hedge, two rabbits popped out, and
Pete blazed away in fine style with both
barrels, but to no effect; we saw the
shot strike right and left, but Pete was
convinced that the rabbits would not
go far, and he was sure he had hit one.
at least.
While he was reloading, the dogs
started four more from another wood
pile, Brady dropping two in fine style.
Here's another" cried out Pete,
pointing behind me. I turned sud.
denly and saw a white tail bobbing up
and down, and without aim fred. and
by the merest luck, some of the shot
struck bunny" who rolled over and
over and was deposited minute after
at our feet by one of the dogs: nv
companions judged it good shot. but
I knew hoso it was, and kept discreet
silence.
We now went for the "patchn in
which numbers of rabbits were darling
backwards and forwards and running
along the hedge rows. The fun grew
fast and furious all we had to do was
to shoot quickly, and in less than an
hour we had over twenty, of which mum
Der, Brady killed nine. I never seen so
many rabbits In such a small space as
we saw near the Enclosure, and 1 did
not wonder that the farmers complain
ed of their destructiveness.
We saw the wagons approaching, so
collecting our game we started for the
house In good spirits, and discussed
"Nimrod " with the boys over hearty
supper. CHAs- E. NORTON.