Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/195

 DELAWARE COUNTY. 171 were satisfied lie knew him^ as that was his description, and that we should never give him up until we had destroyed him, unless a snow should fall so as to obliterate his track. This was fifty-two miles from our homes in a direct line, and I have no doubt we had run that day sixty miles, as we were then near Delhi, in the upper part of the county. We were treated with great hospitality by this family, whose name was Wilson, and every thing was done to make us and our dogs comfortable, that could be devised. After drinking some tea, and eating but little, we found that sleep was more desirable than anything else, and we retired to rest. Our dogs did not reach the house for some time after our arrival, and then they were in a wretched condition ; but the family exercised great humanity towards them, especially the children, who had taken them into the parlor, and were rubbing them with dry napkins. When we arose, we found a repast prepared for us, with some dough-nuts to eat through the day. This, generally,- was our daily food, and for drink, we could catch up a handful of snow, not allowing ourselves sufficient time to quench our thirst at a brook. Before light we started, and tracked our way up the moun- tain ; and I can confidently say, I never felt better than at that time ; my spirits were buoyant, and I trod with lighter foot- step than any day previous ; this was the fourth day of our hunt. I asked Capt. W how he felt ; he said, I feel well ; victory to-day ; to-day the wolf must die.'^ But we felt keenly for our dogs, for although they had been so well used, yet they could not move a step, scarcely, without crying ; and thus they continued yelping till they had followed us some miles. We would have left them at the farm-house, but they howled so terribly, we were obliged to let them follow us. About light we got on the wolf-track again, and within three hundred yards, found he had lain down, but had risen again in the night, voluntarily, and walked not more than ten yards,