The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-01-22
A
WOLF HUNT.
An EutempOTizsd Affair In a Min
LesOta Forest.

OEZO @-s1zs@=AOE.1S
A few years ago, in the northern
part of Minnesota, wolves often became
an intolerable nuisance during the
winter and reports of numBsrs having
been seen led five of US to conclude
that we needed little rest and .recrea-
ton and that wolf hunt would MI the
long-felt want. The scene OF action
was on the Mississippi River within
fifty miles of ST. Anthony Falls, at a
place where a log bottom, covered with
trees and thick underbrush, reached
back from the river half mile to the
cliff. From the rocky face OF the Gill,
almost perpendicular in places, sprang
trees and bushes, finding root In the
many cracks and crevices. For miles
back from the top Of the cliff lay
rolling, heavily timbered country, the
whole forming most beautiful retreat
for wolves.
Not one of the party owned dog
that would have been of the slightest
use, and even If we had possessed one
not one had the least idea of how to
hunt wolves with or without dogs The
various arms of the crowd would have
made a good collection for some gun
store window.
1t was a few days after New Years,
the thermometer registering 8 de-
grees below in the sun, when we
reached the edge of the timber; Joe,
who wore a pair of Indian snowshoes,
and l, who had a pair of Norwegian
skis, got along very well, but Harry,
who weighed over 200 pounds, broke
through the crust at every step.
After holding pow-wow, we decided
to work down the bottom till dinner
time, then back up through the tim
Der above. Giving my skis to Harry,
he and George followed the river bank,
Billy took the centre, while Joe and
kept in close to the cliff.
For perhaps an hour we silently
worked our way, when a shot from
Billy's express put us all on the Qui
vive. Hearing no whistle-the signal
agreed upon in case one of us saw
wolves-and being only too glad of
something to relieve the monotony we
all hurried over to Billy and found him
fastening fine specimen of the horned
owl to the back of his belt. After
few words we were about to return to
our places when Billy, with wild yell
began war dance his hands behind
LIN in a vain attempt toAget rid of his
game. Billy's owl was far from dead,
having been only stunned, and on com
ing to had sunk his claws deep into the
nearest flesh. Every time the bird
swung against Billy's legs he would
peck at his calves, Billy letting out a
wilder howl at each nip. AS well as
we could for laughing we released him
from his game.
1t was past l o'clock when we sat
down to lunch at the spring where we
had arranged to meet--that is, we all
sat down except Billy, who preferred
standing, for reasons best known to
himself. Afterward we climber the
bluff. Harry was sent to the far side
of the timber-it being deemed advis-
able to have him at as great range
as possible, for general safety-next
to him came George, then Billy, Joe
and l keeping near to the edge of the
cliff so as to be able to keep an eye
on the bottoms below We had COW
cred perhaps two miles, when Joe held
up his hand and crept cautiously to
the edge. The next moment there was
a crunch, and over he went with a
whoop. Running forward, was just
in time to see dark body, that seemed
to be mostly arms and legs, revolv-
ing in a cloud of snow, plunge out Of
sight in drift at the foot of a steep
slide of seventy-ave or hundred feet,
where the snow, blowing over the top
of the bluff, had filed in level. A
heavy crust forming, it had made a
smooth chute, without break from
top to bottom. Had it killed him l
believe / must have laughed; but the
next instant the laugh was the other
way, for my feet slipped and away l
went, shooting along in Joe's track.
1t was swift rush, the snow flying in
to my face and down my neck, as /
covered more ground in given time
that ever did before or ever want
to again. Then came a leap into the
air-I felt as though fell miles-and
spread eagle fashion. dived ker-chug