Bob made a curious demi-volte, I do assure you, as the dark
brindled villain darted between his fore legs with an angry snarl; but
at a single word and slight admonition of the curb, stood motionless as
though he had been carved in marble. Quickly I brought my rifle up,
though steadily enough, and--more, I fancy, by good luck than
management--planted my bullet in the neck, just where the skull and
spine unite, so that he bounced three feet at least above the frozen
snow, and fell quite dead, within twelve paces of the covert. The other
wolf, which had crept out to my right hand, was welcomed by the almost
simultaneous fire of three pieces, one of which only lodged its bullet,
a small one by the way--eighty or ninety only to the pound--too light
entirely to tell a story, in the brute's loins.
"He gave a savage yell enough as the shot told; and, for the first
twenty or thirty yards, dragged his hind quarters heavily; but, as he
went on, he recovered, gathering headway very rapidly over the little
ridge, and through the open woodland, toward a clear field on the
mountain's brow. Just as this passed, a dozen shots were fired, in a
quick running volley, from the thicket, just where an old cart-way
divides it; followed, after a moment's pause, by one full, round report,
which I knew instantly to be the voice of old Tom's musket; nor did I
err, for, while its echoes were yet vocal in the leafless forest, the
owner's jovial shout was heard--
"'Wiped all your eyes, boys! all of them, by the Etarnal!--Who-whoop for
our side!--and I'll bet horns for all on us, old leather-breeches has
killed his'n.
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