animal heroes-第28节

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son　of　the　saloonkeeper。

Jim　was　a　wilful　little　rascal　with　a　mind　of　his　own。　He　took　to
the　Wolf　because　it　had　killed　a　Dog　that　had　bitten　him。　He
thenceforth　fed　the　Wolf　and　made　a　pet　of　it；　and　the　Wolf
responded　by　allowing　him　to　take　liberties　which　no　one　else
dared　venture。

Jim's　father　was　not　a　model　parent。　He　usually　spoiled　his　son；
but　at　times　would　get　in　a　rage　and　beat　him　cruelly　for　some
trifle。　The　child　was　quick　to　learn　that　he　was　beaten；　not
because　he　had　done　wrong；　but　because　he　had　made　his　father
angry。　If；　therefore；　he　could　keep　out　of　the　way　until　that
anger　had　cooled；　he　had　no　further　cause　for　worry。　One　day；
seeking　safety　in　flight　with　his　father　behind　him；　he　dashed
into　the　Wolf's　kennel；　and　his　grizzly　chum　thus　unceremoniously
awakened　turned　to　the　door；　displayed　a　double　row　of　ivories；
and　plainly　said　to　the　father：　〃Don't　you　dare　to　touch　him。〃

If　Hogan　could　have　shot　the　Wolf　then　and　there　he　would　have
done　so；　but　the　chances　were　about　equal　of　killing　his　son；　so
he　let　them　alone　and；　half　an　hour　later；　laughed　at　the　whole
affair。　Thenceforth　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　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　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。〃

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　tobacco；　matches；　pistol　cartridges；　and
other　contraband；　he　fished　out　a　flimsy　bit　of　grocer's　twine
and　fastened　it　around　the　Wolf's　neck。　Then；　still　blubbering　a
little；　he　set　out　for　home　on　the　Pony；　leading　the　Wolf　and
hurling　a　final　threat　and　anathema　at　the　German　nobleman：　〃Fur
two　cents　I'd　sic　hi