While doing this, I remember that close to the spot where I was a prisoner, I had noticed several smaller rocks lying at the base of the elm. I bent down, and by reaching around, managed to secure one of these, and balanced it over my head.
I had hardly done so before the wolf gathered himself together, and made another leap, this time directly for my throat.
With all my strength I hurled the rock. By pure chance my aim was true, and the missile struck the brute squarely in the face.
He uttered a sharp cry of pain and tumbled back. As he did so, I stooped down and picked up another, but much smaller stone.
It took him fully a minute to recover from the blow I had given him, and when he approached again, he did so with great caution.
But this time I did not give him the chance to make the leap. It was no pleasant thought to have him so close to my throat. I took careful aim at him while he was crouching, and let fly with all the strength at my command.
The stone struck him directly in the right eye, and its force was so great that it must have ruined that optic. He uttered a terrible howl, and turning, slunk out of sight.
I listened intently, and heard him trot off for a short distance, and then stop. I knew his nature was not one to give up what he had once undertaken, and that as soon as he had recovered partly from the pain I had inflicted, he would make another attempt on my life.
I bent down, searching for another stone, but found none within reach. There was a good one that I could just touch with the tips of my fingers, but that was all.