The Bossier banner., 1892-02-11
SOME WOLF STORIES.
Captures Made In New Brunswick When
the Bounty Was SO skull.


did you ever see wolf?'' asks
friend of mine. Yes, more times than
once The first time was in this wise:
We were boys together, johnson and
myself, born in the same neighb Orhood,
strapped with the same piece or leather
in the red schoolhouse that topped the
hill, behind which was pond in which
we bathed and swan together: gathered
beachnuts into the same basket, shot
partridges in the same woods, and last,
but not least, trapped wolves and other
game. honestly dividing the proceeds
between us.
1t was winter, the snow two feet
deep in our settlement, which was in
the province of New Brunswick.
Wolves were plenty, and Johnson and
myself were doing good business
| trapping them. On each was bounty
| of ten dollars, and each skin was worth
| three more. One Sunday morning af-
ter Johnson had made himself ready for
church, he thought he would examine
one of his traps set in the edge OF the
woods near his fathers field. Putting
on his heavy boots, and without gun or
ak, he strolled across the field. When
near the spot the rattling of the chain
by which the trap was fastened quick
ened his pace, and behold, large wolf
was in the trap. Johnson saw at
glance he was slightly caught by the
end of his paw. Now" he soliloquized,
if go back for the gun he may sue
ceed in getting free before my return,
for the brute was making frantic efforts
to free himself The bounty, ten dol
lars, skin, three dollars, it would not
do to miss him. Being a fine athlete,
johnson made bound for the wolf,
catching him by the throat. In the
meantime the wolf had cleared him
self from the trap. Then came the tug
ot-war in that two feet of snow.
The struggle was short and furious.
Johnson held his death grip, sometimes
on top and again underneath the brute,
both so covered in snow it was difficult
to distinguish wolf from man. The
wolf at last was overcome, kicked and
choked to death by his powerful antag-
onist johnson did not attend church
that day, for his Sunday clothes hung
in tatters; besides, there were some
ugly scratches from the sharp claws of
the now dead game. II never will try
that again, Mack" he said to me. Il
thought myself match for almost any
wild animal of these woods, but this
fellow was bigger job than reckoned
on" Johnson was but seventeen years
of age and l was sixteen. That winter
was my first experience with wolves.
Five years later i was working in the
logging woods at place called the Mar.
rows, head of Grand lake, in Maine
The second evening after our arrivaI
at camp the most of the crew haC
turned into their berths, the cook only
was outside the camp door, when he
called: Boys, hear a dog bowling
across the lake" | had seen a vol
track that afternoon, and knew the
! kind of a dog across the lake. We are
: all outside the camp in few seconds
, The moon was full and bright. and tht
wind asleep-not sound but the how
: of the wolf Soon another and anothe
gave tongue, until the recruits mum
5 bered dozen or more. Boys" | said
those devils are up to some mischief
/ they are old acquaintance of mine
l Listen!' One would think pandemo
} MUM had broken loose. They had dis
t covered deer at our water hole Owe
they came, the hills echoing and re
echoing their cries, making the nigh
hideous with howlings. The startle
3 deer rushed by our camp, with wolve
in close pursuit. 1t was an unequa
match. The poor animal found the
d were closing with him, and ran back t
e the lake, the merciless pack at his heels
s Again he made for the woods, and in
clump of thick cedars they took his life
l There was but one gun in our crew, an
u that was not loaded. We did not ente
into the scuffle. Not one of the me
but myself had ever heard or seen
J wolf before; and none of MS had desir
for nearer acquaintance. The ne1
I morning we visited the spot. Afte
5 killing their game they had dragged
J out on the ice; and so com pletely demo
> ished was the carcass that scarcely
vestige remained Forest and Stream