DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70267#0097
WOLVES IN FRANCE.
79
which, notwithstanding the pain he was in, he leaped
upon the wolf’s back, clapt his knees fast to his flanks,
and called out for help to some armed peasants who were
passing by, but none of those fellows dared to advance;
“ well then,” says he, “ fire if you kill me, I forgive
you.”' One of them fired, and three bullets went through
the brave officers coat, but neither he nor the beast were
wounded. Another, bolder than his comrades, seeing
the cavalier was intrepid, and kept firm upon the wolf,
came very near and let fly at him ; the animal was
mortally wounded by this shot, and after a few more
furious motions expired. In this dreadful conflict, be-
sides the losing of his right thumb, the young count’s
left arm was torn, and he got several bites in his legs and
thighs. Tv hen he arrived at Bon le Roy, where his regi-
ment lay, he was advised to go down with all speed to
the sea; which he accordingly did.
In addition to this singular instance of the ferocity of
these animals, it may be proper to add the following,
which recently occurred in France last winter, while Mr.
Dressing, the messenger was going with a dispatch to
Lord Cornwallis—the particulars were as follows:
As Mr. Dressing, the messenger, was on his last jour-
ney to Marquis Cornwallis, he was alarmed during the
night, not far from Boulogne, by the cries ef the post-
boy, who called out to him to “ fire!” His horses stop-
ping suddenly, he fired a pistol out of each window,
thinking he had been attacked by highwaymen ; but on
enquiry, he found that the boy’s outcry was occasioned
by two wolves, one of which attempted to bite his leg,
but was prevented by the jack-boots worn by French pos-
tillions : they then each seized one of the horses by the
nose, and had (as appeared on examination) torn their
lips off.
M S But
79
which, notwithstanding the pain he was in, he leaped
upon the wolf’s back, clapt his knees fast to his flanks,
and called out for help to some armed peasants who were
passing by, but none of those fellows dared to advance;
“ well then,” says he, “ fire if you kill me, I forgive
you.”' One of them fired, and three bullets went through
the brave officers coat, but neither he nor the beast were
wounded. Another, bolder than his comrades, seeing
the cavalier was intrepid, and kept firm upon the wolf,
came very near and let fly at him ; the animal was
mortally wounded by this shot, and after a few more
furious motions expired. In this dreadful conflict, be-
sides the losing of his right thumb, the young count’s
left arm was torn, and he got several bites in his legs and
thighs. Tv hen he arrived at Bon le Roy, where his regi-
ment lay, he was advised to go down with all speed to
the sea; which he accordingly did.
In addition to this singular instance of the ferocity of
these animals, it may be proper to add the following,
which recently occurred in France last winter, while Mr.
Dressing, the messenger was going with a dispatch to
Lord Cornwallis—the particulars were as follows:
As Mr. Dressing, the messenger, was on his last jour-
ney to Marquis Cornwallis, he was alarmed during the
night, not far from Boulogne, by the cries ef the post-
boy, who called out to him to “ fire!” His horses stop-
ping suddenly, he fired a pistol out of each window,
thinking he had been attacked by highwaymen ; but on
enquiry, he found that the boy’s outcry was occasioned
by two wolves, one of which attempted to bite his leg,
but was prevented by the jack-boots worn by French pos-
tillions : they then each seized one of the horses by the
nose, and had (as appeared on examination) torn their
lips off.
M S But