'
"This passed so rapidly--in fact it was all nearly simultaneous--that
the fourth wolf was yet in sight, when the last shot was fired. We all
knew well enough that the main object of our chase had for the time
escaped us!--the game was all afoot!--three of them slain already; nor
was there any longer aught to be gained by sticking to our stations. So,
more for deviltry than from entertaining any real hope of overtaking
him, I chucked my rifle to the nearest of the farmers, touched old Bob
with the spur, and went away on a hard gallop after the wounded
fugitive, who was now plodding onward at the usual long loping canter of
his tribe. For about half a mile the wood was open, and sloped gently
upward, until it joined the open country, where it was bounded by a high
rugged fence, made in the usual snake fashion, with a huge heavy
top-rail. This we soon reached; the wolf, which was more hurt than I had
fancied, beginning to lag grievously, crept through it scarcely a
hundred yards ahead of me, and, by good luck, at a spot where the top
rail had been partially dislodged, so that Bob swept over it, almost
without an effort, in his gallop; though it presented an impenetrable
rampart to some half dozen of the horsemen who had followed.
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