I was now
in a cleared lot of some ten acres, forming the summit of the hill,
which, farther on, sunk steeply into a dark ravine full of thick
brushwood, with a small verge of thinly growing coppice not more than
twenty yards in width, on tolerably level ground, within the low
stone-wall which parted it from the cultivated land. I felt that I was
now upon my vantage ground; and you may be sure, Frank, that I spared
not the spurs; but the wolf, conscious probably of the vicinity of some
place of safety, strained every nerve and ran, in fact, as if he had
been almost unwounded; so that he was still twelve or fourteen paces
from me when he jumped on the wall.
"Once over this, I well knew he was safe; for I was thoroughly
acquainted with the ground, and was of course aware that no horse could
descend the banks of the precipitous ravine. In this predicament, I
thought I might as well take a chance at him with one of my good
pistols, though of course with faint hopes of touching him. However, I
pulled out the right hand nine-inch barrel, took a quick sight, and let
drive at him; and, much to my delight, the sound was answered by the
long snarling howl, which I had that day heard too often to doubt any
more its meaning.
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