The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-04
CHASED ny WOLVES.
Two Fishcrinen Have an Exciting 1line In
u Canadian Forest.

Two Fishcrmen Have AN Exciting Time In
u Canadian Forest.
OTTAWA, Ont, Dec. 3.-An enthusiastic
fisherman who has just returned from tho
Ottawa district tells the following thrilling
story Of his experience with the Canadian
wolf:
He and an Englishman, both eager for
sport. had gone out from a solitary hotel.
some fifty miles above navigation on the
Ottawa river, in search Of trout. After try
ing one lake, at which they were unsuooess-
full, they proceeded through the traokless
forest some ten miles away FROM the hotel,
10 the headwaters Of a chain OF smaller
lakes in the vicinity. In a few hours they
had hooked over 400 fish. some of them OF
large sizo. The coming darkness
Canadian strung a few of the fish
together, but the Englishman insisted upon
taking with him a string longer than him
self. He had about fifty ponnds or fish
loaded on his shoulder, when darkness COM
PEELED the twain to proceed on the home
ward journey. Before they had gone many
yardsit was pitch dark. Tho Canadian
carried his gun with about half n dozen
fish, but the overloaded Englishman drag
ged behind with his heavy load. The only
guide through the forest was by means OF
"blazes." When they neared the lake they
had deserted in the morning a shriil bark
was heard on the hillside over to the left.
The Canadian knew what it meant. 1t was
a warming. A wolf had scented the fsh. A
half minute afterward the bark was re-
peated, and then away to the right came a
loud ringing whine which told that the
signal bark had been heard. The English
man dropped his fish and asked hug-
riedly, what ia thatp" He was
told that it meant wolves and bust
ness and that he must throw away his fish
if he wished to escape a horrible danger.
He refused, however, and simply picked up
his fish again and quiokened his pace. AT
every step the cries grew more numerous.
The pathway had been lost and the two
and dense underground toward the lake
some five hundred feet away. The Cana.
dian remembered that he had built a small
raft of logs that morning and moored 1t
near the shore. If the raft had not drifted
there was still some hope.
He had scarcely paused to urge the Eng
lishman to renewed efforts when he saw
right at his side q pair of cleaning eyes,
which frightened him SO much that his gun
almost dropped from his nerveless grasp.
He called to the Enslishman to hasten or
he would be devoured. As soon as the lat
ter CAUGHT sight of the blazing eyes he
dropped his fish and rushed through the
brush at the heels of his companion. just
then there was a cracking in the bush and
the next moment the wolf came bound
snap at the Englishman and dis
appeared in the darkness. The two fright
ened men tore their way along the uneven
path, among brambles and vines, until their
clothes were in shreds. just Utmost at the
brink OF the lake there was another howl
bush came the CLEAN of fierce eyes. They
were almost surrounded by the savage beasts.
The Canadian had only a little bird shot
with him, but he fired. The report made
an awful noise that resounded through the
forest. The animals scattered in all direc-
tions atfrighted at the flash. But it was
only a moments respite. Again they took
up the pursuit, bowling and yelping, while
their intended victims made slow progress
over rocks, logs, and distractions of al!
kinds in an intense darkness. When they
bad reached within a foot of the lake the
with swapping teeth, sprang upon
them. The animal jumped high AMI
tore away a part of the Canadian
coat collar. He turned as quickly as Ii
could, and as the beast dropped to tt
ground he struck it with the barrel of HI
The blow drove him off a few feet,
and then he leveled the remaining barrel
and fired. The wolf fell over bowling, and
the fishermen took up their rush for the
shore. The other wolves paused for a few
moments with their PROSTATE companion
and then dashed after them. Before they
could be overtaken, the men had reached
the shore and the raft. AS they we're push
ing themselves from the shore another
wolf sprang at them. The Englishman,
who had kept hold Of his club, came down
upon the animals head with it and hit him
a stunning blow. With the aid of the gun
and the club the men succeeded in pushing
from the Shore. All night they drifted on
the lake on their frail craft. The wolves
lowered around the shore all night and
howled. They decamped ut daybreak and
the two men went back to the hotel with a
story to tell.