Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/193

DELAWARE COUNTY. ^ 169^ about forty feet/ when I approached and shot him through the heart. The following is a part of an account given of a wolf, which was run down by some hunters who resided in the village of Deposit, in Delaware county, New York. This animal had lost three toes from one of his feet, and on this account was called the three-legged wolf.^^ He was particularly famous for his depredations among the sheep, and had been frequently pursued, but from his great sagacity had hitherto escaped. No less than forty-five persons had originally started in the chase on the present occasion, but it was now the third day, and two only had sufficient perseverance to continue the pur- suit. By this time it was fairly light — we were at the spot where we had left the wolf the night previous, and we had not proceeded more than three hundred yards up the hill, before we found his bed. This he tad left of his own accord, and walked to the top of a hill, which was about half a mile distant, and then took to another road which led direct to Walton, and continued till he came close to Judge Pine^s farm, a distance of fifteen miles, where he had a few weeks previous killed so many sheep, and there, at the foot of another hill, he had reposed the remainder of the night. We soon aroused him, and he took directly up the hill, which was exceedingly steep, but up which we clambered with slow pro- gress until we had gained the top. We had walked fifteen miles, and as I was first on the summit of the hill, I looked down, and saw W about thirty yards from me. The wolf kept his course on the brow of that hill for three miles, and then left it, and crossed the road which leads from Walton to Eranklin, on the Susquehanna; here I stopped and waited for my companion ; W was immediately by my side. The wood before us was open for six miles, and gradually ascend= ing, but not so much as to prevent our taking rapid strides ; 15