"'I hit him,' shouted Garry, 'I hit him then, I swon; but I guess not so
badly, but he can travel still. Look out you, Archer, he's squatted in
the thick there, and won't stir 'till they get close a top on him.'
"While he was speaking yet, a loud and startling shout arose from the
open field, announcing to my ear upon the instant that one or more had
broken covert at some unguarded spot, as it was evident from the absence
of any firing. The leader of our squad was clearly of the same opinion;
for, motioning to us to spread our line a little wider, he galloped off
at a tremendous rate, spurning the snowballs high into the air,
accompanied by three of his best men, to stop the gap which had been
left through the misapprehension of the Jerseyman.
"This he accomplished; but not until the great wolf, wilier than his
comrades, had got off unharmed. He had not moved five minutes before a
small dark bitch-wolf broke away through our line, at the angle furthest
from my station, and drew a scattering volley from more than half our
men--too rapid and too random to be deadly--though several of the balls
struck close about her, I thought she had got off scot free; but Jem
McDaniel--whom you know--a cool, old steady hand, had held his fire, and
taking a long quiet aim, lodged his ball fairly in the centre of her
shoulders--over she went, and over, tearing the snow with tooth and claw
in her death agony; while fancying, I suppose, that all our guns were
emptied--for, by my life, I think the crafty brutes can almost reason--
out popped two more! one between me and my right hand man--the other, a
large dog, dragging a wounded leg behind him, under my horse's very
feet.
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