Pagina 340 di 788

As a wolf when surprised over its carrion throws itself blindly

into the pack that disturbs its meal; he is already chasing them,

he is about to tear them, when amid the yelping of the dogs a gun

hammer gently clicks; the wolf recognises it by the click,

glances in that direction; he notices that in the rear, behind

the hounds, a hunter, half crouching and upon one knee, is moving

the gun barrel towards him and is just touching the trigger; the

wolf droops its ears and scuttles off with its tail between its

legs; the pack with a triumphant uproar rush on and pluck it by

its shaggy flanks; the beast often turns, glances at them, snaps

its jaws; and hardly does he threaten them with the gnashing of

his white teeth when the pack scamper away whining: so did

Gerwazy withdraw with threatening mien, checking his assailants

by his eyes and by the bench, until the Count and he reached the

back of the dark niche.