Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-08-28

out to I'LL up the line.
1t takes considerable time TO form line
of men seven miles long. out of such materi-
ais rs would come together on such AN oc-
casion. IL was ton o'clock when the mar
shalling commenced, and tho line was not
ready to move till past one o'clock.
In front the lake would prevent the game
from escaping. From each end of the Lake
the semicircle extended into the country
over the hillsdes, enclosing the wild region
between the farm and the water. hunt
ing force arranged, and advancing in this
form, is called by Sir Walter Scott "tm-
chcl."
There were about three hundred men and
boys in the sevon-niile line. Accordingly,
when they started, they would be nearly sew
en- rods apart 1t was with difficulty that
the impotence of the boys aud some of the
younger men could DO restrained during tho
long delay; but at last the line was COM
pletod and the order given to move.
From the center the marslnrs word re-
poated by hundreds of tongues, went rapidly
to the cnd of the line
"Forward-march! Don't fire OH any
game smaller than wolf"
The tin-horn boys, distributed ut regular
distances along the line, sounded their horns,
and forward we went, tramping and shout
ing, making noise enough all together to
Brighten and drive everything before us.
was near the center of the line, which
must have been ut least two miles from the
lake. The boys kept blowing their horns,
only stopping at intervals to take breath
Every few minutes the cry would pass
through the line,-
keep your ranks on the right!
keep your ranks OH the leftm
1t was Il grand time for all of us. We had
advanced in this way perhaps fifteen min
utos when new order came
Extreme right and left wings, halt
Close down ON the center! Keep the line
good"
The order was obeyed. The wings rested,
and the center kept on, and still, every min
ute or two the cry, keep tho line good"
echoed down the ranks, warning every hunt
er to increased watch and caution.
Very soon the command Move slowcrr'
ran along the forest.
A moment after rifle shot was heard on
the extreme right, and the shout came back,
Look out for II wolf OH the leftH'
Presently shot was heard on the left
and the cry came back, "Look out for II vol
on the right! Every man Mt his post &c
sloww
BY this time the line was less than n mile
and Il halrin length. The wings were found
to be too much in advance of the center, and
were halted again till the center closed
down.
The hunters were now so near TO cacl
other that there was less difficulty in keeping
the line, hut the marshal and his aids contin'
ually passed back and forth, drawing the
men together. In this way the line was
finally shortened to less than u mile, and
then the order was given for n general halt.
The ground enclosed ut this time was very
favorable for our purpose. Back from the
waters edge, perhaps ten rods, rose ledge
OF granite rocks, almost perpendicular, and
nearly hundred feet high. This ledge OK.
tends along the shore about II quarter of {;
mile. Each end of the ledge slopod dowd
almost to the lake. Above the ledge was
open forest and the low ground between
the ledge and the lake was filled with rocks
Bushes and brush and the trunks of uproot'
ed trees. The prccipice facing the water
was full Of cracks and cavcrns, fit retreat:
for lurking wild beasts; but 1t WAS impossi-
BILE for anything to climb up TO these IN moro
than two or three places, while II few men
stationed above could overlook the whole
shore level.
Accordingly the best hunters were placed
on the wings, TO cover the ground between
the ledge and water, and the boys and
younger men ranged along the top of the
ledge to keep the wolves at bay.
1t took nearly half an hour to perfect the
ring and impress every person IN 1t with tho
necessity of sticking to his post, let what
would happen. Then the order went rount
the line, the tin horns again sounded, AM
the march recommended. Very soon the
cry CAME
"Wolf on the right! Look out for HIM oi
the leitn
A moment after three shouts were hcarC
almost simultaneously on the left, and the
cry came back
"Woll wounded Head him of ~
The excitement was now intense. TIE
center had already reached the top of thu
| ledge and the wings were fast closing below
They had just surrounded the space between
the rocks and the water, when two wolves
were seen dashing through the bushes
| Then another--then another.
| Shot after shot was fired ut them, and erie
of There they go! Stop 'em! Look oil
for 'em Head 'em OIL" made even NOR,
tumult than the guns.
We boys became greatly excited. Sucl
wild hunting few of us had ever taken par
in before, and our spirits were keyed up t.
the highest pitch. by this time the wolve,
had become frantic with terror, Glimpse,
of their dark gray forms were seen rs the!
dartcd madly through the underbrush.
Suddenly great black fellow rushed NJ
the cliff near the center, painting with eN
haustion, broke through the ring, and woul,
have escaped, but boy who had no rill,
rushed after him with club, yelling $,
frightlully that the wolf, in mortal terror
turned and ran into the ring again Her,
he soon met his death ut the muzzles of half
a-dOzen rifles.
Another crack of rifles, and another exult
ant shout, "Wolf killed in the centerm \
forth yolley and more triumphant news
"Wolf killed on the lcft!n
Then two sharp shots followed from tn
right, and the cry, "Stand to your places
Two wolves broken the ring"
There was lull in the firing now; for fl
teen minutes no game in sight Finally
number of men were sent in TO "beat" thu
brush. Nothing was found. Tho rest of tn
wolves had either escaped or secreted them
selves in the holes of the ledge.
The hunt was over, and there was n,
more to do but to pick up our dead
Two of the three slaughtered wolves wer
| 0ruV and nf na1iun sizn Tho nno lila,