The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-22

and more numerous. The wolf for the
most part still had kept up its long trot,
but had begun 10 vary 1t from time to
to rest himself by change of motion.
once or twice ] saw where he had lain
down in the snow in his tracks if for
a breathing SPELL but these haltS must
have been short ones. Where they had
crossed streams at open places both deer
and wolf had stopped to drink and some
times they had Tapped up little snow s
they ran, but except for a hasty mouth
ful of twigs snatched by the deer at
places where they had halted, there was
no sign that the pursuer or the pursued
ate anything during the whole progress
of the chase. More and more the indica-
tons showed that the deer were slowing
their pace, were making more frequent
halts, and the wolf clearly was drawing
nearer to them.
"On the morning of the third day | again
left the tracks. but. toward noon, as |
reached the shore of Eagle Lake, ] got
my first view of this remarkable chase.
FROM a wooded point n half mile below
me the three deer broke out from the
bushes upon the frozen lake One was
buck with antlers, the other two were
does. They were running YEARLY, the
buck in the lead. After them, fifty yards
behind, galloped the wolf, big gray
fellow, as he was, overhauling them fast
Ono OF the two does, running INSTEAD
lily, fingered behind the others. Suddenly
the wolf, quickening his pace surpris
ingly. came in long bounds upon the poor
T animal and seized ii by the hind legs
above the joint, as if meaning ito ham
string the creature. The doe made two
or three frenzed leaps onward, then fell
and, in an instant, quitting Its hold upon
the leg, the wolf caught her by the throat
tore IL open and greedily Tapped her blood
The stag and the other doe kept on across
the lake and presently disappeared in the
forest beyond
The wolf and the fallen deer were 200
yards from me, too far away for a rifle
shot. l left my sled and started out on
the lake toward the wolf, with no doubt
~ - fa1 D "A 4
soon as he saw me. He was so busy at
his feast that he did not seem to notice
me until had got half way to him. Then
he turned 50 as to face me- and, stil
fastened at the deers throat watched
me as / advanced. AS | came nearer he
lifted his head, growled, and then l saw
that he meant to stand his ground. The
beast was no pleasant-looking sight as
he confronted me, with hair .bristling and
the blood dripping from his black lips,
drawn back from the long, sharp white
fangs.
Clearly l was in for it,, but having gone
so far / couldn't as a matter of self-re-
spect. turn back, and so | kept on, feel
ing not more than half glad at his willing
ness to let me come to close quarters
1t was time before breech-loaders were
in general use and l must make my sin
gle-barreled, muzzle-loading rifle do the
work with its one shot, for a wounded
wolf that means fight is an ugly customer
to deal with. / saw that my small hunt
ing ak and knife Were ready to hand in
my belt, and went boldly ahead
LAS l advanced the VOLTS growing
changed to a snarl. and he repeatedly
started forward as II to spring toward me
1t was no doubt well that l was within a
hundred feet of him, and had raised my
rife to fire before he showed a sign OF
weakening. Then. seeing me still coming
on, he left the deer and retreated his
tail held well UP and his head turned
! grinning savagely at me over his shoulder.
Fifty yards away he turned and lay down.
like dog, in the snow. and. growing
saVagely, watched me. He didn't
quite dare stay by the deer, and couldn't
make up his mind to quit it. l knelt on
one knee. stuck my AK upright in the ice
before me, and using the end of the
handle for a rest, shot him. The ball
struck where l aimed, in front of the left
shoulder.
"At the report of the rifle the wolf
leaped up into the air, spun round two or
three times on the ice, bowling and then
toppled over on his side, dead. took
his skin and the deer's, cut a piece of veni-
son from the haunch, loaded them on my
I sled, and started up the lake to the OLD
/ logging camp, which was my destination
hadn't got quarter of a mile from the
| place before l heard the howl of a wolf
! in the black growth on the shores, ana
! turning round saw two wolves come on
| the ice. following up the track of the
first wolf and the deer. Another wolf
/ came on the lake from the opposite side
| They were all headed for the deer's car
| cass, and not for me. but 1 felt that
| there were too many of us there for
/ right good company, and l didn't lose
| any time in getting to camD."