Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/225

DELAWARE COUNTY. 201 very naturally attribute to them determination, fortitude^ cou- rage, and perseverance, and what four attributes are more im- portant to the pioneer than these. It was determination that prompted them to seek a home in a boundless forest — it was fortitude that enabled them to endure privations — it was cou- rage that upheld them in the hour of fear — and it was perse- verance that enabled them to toil month after month, and year after year, for the bare maintenance of life. But we have thus casually wandered from the strict matter of fact, to enable the reader more fully, if possible, to form a correct realization of the men and times of which we write, and we will now return to the original design of one or two authentic anec- dotes. Two men, by the name of Hotchkiss, who resided on Kose's Brook, near where Cillick Grould now lives, nearly, if not quite, excelled old Putnam, of Connecticut, by their daring adventures after wolves. These two hunters one morning dis- covered a fresh wolf-track on the snow, and immediately deter- mined to go in pursuit. They prepared their guns and ammu- nition, and started on the track. After following it part of a day, they found that the wolf had crawled into a hollow tree that had broken off near the ground, and fallen directly down a steep hill. Into this crooked tree there was no way of level- ing their guns, so as to fire at the sheep-stealer with any chance of success. Being very anxious to secure their game, and having no axe to cut the tree, one of the hunters entered head foremost, with his gun to pilot the way ; after getting to a crook in the tree, he made room enough to admit a little light, and when he saw the glaring eyes of the wolf before him, in this position he levelled his gun and fired, and then retreated to the open air as fast as possible. After reloading, he again entered the tree and felt his way before him with his gun; finding that all was still, he returned near enough to touch the wolf with his rifle. As he gave no signs of life, the