He had taken advantage of a slight hollow and turned, and now
the chase was crossing us half a mile away. With whip and spur we flew
towards them, our two greyhounds stretching out in front and leaving
us as if we were standing still, the track-hounds and big dogs running
after them just ahead of the horses. Fortunately the wolf plunged for a
moment into a little brushy hollow and again doubled back, and this gave
us a chance to see the end of the chase from nearby. The two greyhounds
which had first taken up the pursuit were then but a short distance
behind. Nearer they crept until they were within ten yards, and then
with a tremendous race the little bitch ran past him and inflicted a
vicious bite in the big beast's ham. He whirled around like a top and
his jaws clashed like those of a sprung bear-trap, but quick though he
was she was quicker and just cleared his savage rush. In another moment
he resumed his flight at full speed, a speed which only that of the
greyhounds exceeded; but almost immediately the second greyhound ranged
alongside, and though he was not able to bite, because the wolf kept
running with its head turned around threatening him, yet by his feints
he delayed the beast's flight so that in a moment or two the remaining
couple of swift hounds arrived on the scene.
Pages:
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269