animal heroes(动物英雄)-第34节
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Little Jim made for the Wolf's den whenever he was in danger； and
sometimes the only notice any one had that the boy had been in mischief
was seeing him sneak in behind the savage captive。
Economy in hired help was a first principle with Hogan。 Therefore his
〃barkeep〃 was a Chinaman。 He was a timid； harmless creature； so Paul des
Roches did not hesitate to bully him。 One day； finding Hogan out； and the
Chinaman alone in charge； Paul； already tipsy； demanded a drink on credit；
and Tung Ling； acting on standing orders； refused。 His artless explanation；
〃No good； neber pay；〃 so far from clearing up the difficulty； brought Paul
staggering back of the bar to avenge the insult。 The Celestial might have
suffered grievous bodily hurt； but that Little Jim was at hand and had a
long stick； with which he adroitly tripped up the Fiddler and sent him
sprawling。 He staggered to his feet swearing he would have Jim's life。 But
the child was near the back door and soon found refuge in the Wolf's
kennel。
Seeing that the boy had a protector； Paul got the long stick； and from a
safe distance began to belabor the Wolf； The grizzly creature raged at the
end of the chain； but； though he parried many cruel blows by seizing the
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stick in his teeth； he was suffering severely； when Paul realized that Jim；
whose tongue had not been idle； was fumbling away with nervous fingers
to set the Wolf loose； and soon would succeed。 Indeed； it would have been
done already but for the strain that the Wolf kept on the chain。
The thought of being in the yard at the mercy of the huge animal that
he had so enraged； gave the brave Paul a thrill of terror。
Jim's wheedling voice was heard …〃Hold on now； Wolfie； back up just
a little； and you shall have him。 Now do； there's a good Wolfie〃that was
enough； the Fiddler fled and carefully closed all doors behind him。
Thus the friendship between Jim and his pet grew stronger； and the
Wolf； as he developed his splendid natural powers； gave daily evidence
also of the mortal hatred he bore to men that smelt of whiskey and to all
Dogs； the causes of his sufferings。 This peculiarity； coupled with his love
for the childand all children seemed to be included to some extentgrew
with his growth and seemed to prove the ruling force of his life。
III
At this timethat is； the fall of 1881there were great complaints
among the Qu'Appelle ranchmen that the Wolves were increasing in their
country and committing great depredations among the stock。 Poisoning
and trapping had proved failures； and when a distinguished German visitor
appeared at the Club in Winnipeg and announced that he was bringing
some Dogs that could easily rid the country of Wolves； he was listened to
with unusual interest。 For the cattle…men are fond of sport； and the idea of
helping their business by establishing a kennel of Wolfhounds was very
alluring。
The German soon produced as samples of his Dogs； two magnificent
Danes； one white； the other blue with black spots and a singular white eye
that completed an expression of unusual ferocity。 Each of these great
creatures weighed nearly two hundred pounds。 They were muscled like
Tigers； and the German was readily believed when he claimed that these
two alone were more than a match for the biggest Wolf。 He thus described
their method of hunting： 〃All you have to do is show them the trail and；
even if it is a day old； away they go on it。 They cannot be shaken off。 They
will soon find that Wolf； no matter how he doubles and hides。 Then they
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close on him。 He turns to run； the blue Dog takes him by the haunch and
throws him like this；〃 and the German jerked a roll of bread into the air；
〃then before he touches the ground the white Dog has his head； the other
his tail； and they pull him apart like that。〃
It sounded all right； at any rate every one was eager to put it to the
proof。 Several of the residents said there was a fair chance of finding a
Gray…wolf along the Assiniboine； so a hunt was organized。 But they
searched in vain for three days and were giving it up when some one
suggested that down at Hogan's saloon was a Wolf chained up； that they
could get for the value of the bounty； and though little more than a year
old he would serve to show what the Dogs could do。
The value of Hogan's Wolf went up at once when he knew the
importance of the occasion； besides； 〃he had conscientious scruples。〃 All
his scruples vanished； however； when his views as to price were met。 His
first care was to get Little Jim out of the way by sending him on an errand
to his grandma's； then the Wolf was driven into his box and nailed in。 The
box was put in a wagon and taken to the open prairie along the Portage
trail。
The Dogs could scarcely be held back； they were so eager for the fray；
as soon as they smelt the Wolf。 But several strong men held their leash； the
wagon was drawn half a mile farther； and the Wolf was turned out with
some difficulty。 At first he looked scared and sullen。 He tried to get out of
sight； but made no attempt to bite。 However； on finding himself free； as
well as hissed and hooted at； he started off at a slinking trot toward the
south； where the land seemed broken。 The Dogs were released at that
moment； and； baying furiously； they bounded away after the young Wolf。
The men cheered loudly and rode behind them。 From the very first it was
clear that he had no chance。 The Dogs were much swifter； the white one
could run like a Greyhound。 The German was wildly enthusiastic as she
flew across the prairie； gaining visibly on the Wolf at every second。 Many
bets were offered on the Dogs； but there were no takers。 The only bets
accepted were Dog against Dog。 The young Wolf went at speed now； but
within a mile the white Dog was right behind himwas closing in。
The German shouted： 〃Now watch and see that Wolf go up in the air。〃
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In a moment the runners were together。 Both recoiled； neither went up
in the air； but the white Dog rolled over with a fearful gash in her
shoulderout of the fight； if not killed。 Ten seconds later the Blue…spot
arrived； open…mouthed。 This meeting was as quick and almost as
mysterious as the first。 The animals barely touched each other。 The gray
one bounded aside； his head out of sight for a moment in the flash of quick
movement。 Spot reeled and showed a bleeding flank。 Urged on by the men；
he assaulted again； but only to get another wound that taught him to keep
off。
Now came the keeper with four more huge Dogs。 They turned these
loose； and the men armed with clubs and lassos were closing to help in
finishing the Wolf； when a small boy came charging over the plain on a
Pony。 He leaped to the ground and wriggling through the ring flung his
arms around the Wolf's neck。 He called him his 〃Wolfie pet；〃 his 〃dear
Wolfie〃the Wolf licked his face and wagged its tailthen the child turned
on the crowd and through his streaming tears； heWell it would not do to
print what he said。 He was only nine； but he was very old…fashioned； as
well as a rude little boy。 He had been brought up in a low saloon； and had
been an apt pupil at picking up the vile talk of the place。 He cursed them
one and all and for generations back； he did not spare even his own father。
If a man had used such shocking and insulting language he might have
been lynched； but coming from a baby； the hunters did not know what to
do； so finally did the best thing。 They laughed aloudnot at themselves；
that is not considered good formbut they all laughed at the German
whose wonderful Dogs had been worsted by a half…grown Wolf。
Jimmie now thrust his dirty； tear…stained little fist down into his
very…much…of…a…boy's pocket； and from among marbles and chewing…gum；
as well as to
