340 PITTING OP WOLVES.
he was now " paying them off in full;" and added that if I would tarry
a few hours with him next morning, he would beyond a doubt shew me
some sport rarely seen in those parts. We retired to rest in due time,
and were up with the dawn.
" I think," said my host, " that all's right, for I see the dogs are
anxious to get away to the pits, and although they are nothing but curs,
their noses are none the worse for that." As he took up his gun, an
axe and a large knife, the dogs began to howl and bark, and whisked
around us, as if full of joy. When we reached the first pit, we found
the bait all gone, and the platform much injured; but the animal that
had been entrapped had scraped a subterranean passage for himself and
so escaped. On peeping into the next, he assured me that " three famous
fellows were safe enough" in it. I also peeped in and saw the
Wolves, two black, and the other brindled, all of goodly size, sure
enough. They lay flat on the earth, their ears laid close over the head,
their eyes indicating fear more than anger. " But how are we to get
them out ?"—" How Sir," said the farmer, " why by going down to be
sure, and ham-stringing them.1'' Being a novice in these matters, I begged
to be merely a looker-on. " With all my heart," quoth the farmer,
" stand here, and look at me through the brush." Whereupon he glided
down, taking with him his axe and knife, and leaving his rifle to
my care. I was not a little surprised to see the cowardice of the Wolves.
He pulled out successively their hind legs, and with a side stroke of the
knife cut the principal tendon above the joint, exhibiting as little fear as
if he had been marking lambs.
" Lo!" exclaimed the farmer, when he had got out, " we have forgot
the rope; I'll go after it." Off he went accordingly, with as much
alacrity as any youngster could shew. In a short time he returned out
of breath, and wiping his forehead with the back of his hand—" Now
for it." I was desired to raise and hold the platform on its central balance,
whilst he, with all the dexterity of an Indian, threw a noose over
the neck of one of the Wolves. We hauled it up motionless with fright,
as if dead, its disabled legs swinging to and fro, its jaws wide open, and
the gurgle in its throat alone indicating that it was alive. Letting him
drop on the ground, the farmer loosened the rope by means of a stick,
and left him to the dogs, all of which set upon him with great fury and
soon worried him to death. The second was dealt with in the same manner
; but the third, which was probably the oldest, as it was the blackest,
PITTING OF WOLVES. 341
shewed some spirit, the moment it was left loose to the mercy of the
curs. This Wolf, which we afterwards found to be a female, scuffled
along on its fore legs at a surprising rate, giving a snap every now and
then to the nearest dog, which went off howling dismally with a mouthful
of skin torn from its side. And so well did the furious beast defend
itself, that apprehensive of its escape, the farmer levelled his rifle
at it, and shot it through the heart, on which the curs rushed upon it,
and satiated their vengeance on the destroyer of their master's flock.