animal heroes(动物英雄)-第35节
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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 him on you； gol darn ye。〃
IV
Early that winter Jimmie was taken down with a fever。 The Wolf
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howled miserably in the yard when he missed his little friend； and finally
on the boy's demand was admitted to the sick…room； and there this great
wild Dogfor that is all a Wolf iscontinued faithfully watching by his
friend's bedside。
The fever had seemed slight at first； so that every one was shocked
when there came suddenly a turn for the worse； and three days before
Christmas Jimmie died。 He had no more sincere mourner than his
〃Wolfie。〃 The great gray creature howled in miserable answer to the
church…bell tolling when he followed the body on Christmas Eve to the
graveyard at St。 Boniface。 He soon came back to the premises behind the
saloon； but when an attempt was made to chain him again； he leaped a
board fence and was finally lost sight of。
Later that same winter old Renaud； the trapper； with his pretty half…
breed daughter； Ninette； came to live in a little log…cabin on the river bank。
He knew nothing about Jimmie Hogan； and he was not a little puzzled to
find Wolf tracks and signs along the river on both sides between St。
Boniface and Fort Garry。 He listened with interest and doubt to tales that
the Hudson Bay Company's men told of a great Gray…wolf that had come
to live in the region about； and even to enter the town at night； and that
was in particular attached to the woods about St。 Boniface Church。
On Christmas Eve of that year when the bell tolled again as it had
done for Jimmie； a lone and melancholy howling from the woods almost
convinced Renaud that the stories were true。 He knew the wolf…criesthe
howl for help； the love song； the lonely wail； and the sharp defiance of the
Wolves。 This was the lonely wail。
The trapper went to the riverside and gave an answering howl。 A
shadowy form left the far woods and crossed on the ice to where the man
sat； log…still； on a log。 It came up near him； circled past and sniffed； then
its eye glowed； it growled like a Dog that is a little angry； and glided back
into the night。
Thus Renaud knew； and before long many townfolk began to learn；
that a huge Gray…wolf was living in their streets； 〃a Wolf three times as big
as the one that used to be chained at Hogan's gin…mill。〃 He was the terror
of Dogs； killing them on all possible occasions； and some said； though it
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was never proven； that he had devoured more than one half…breed who
was out on a spree。
And this was the Winnipeg Wolf that I had seen that day in the wintry
woods。 I had longed to go to his help； thinking the odds so hopelessly
against him； but later knowledge changed the thought。 I do not know how
that fight ended； but I do know that he was seen many times afterward and
some of the Dogs were not。
Thus his was the strangest life that ever his kind had known。 Free of
all the woods and plains； he elected rather to lead a life of daily hazard in
the towneach week at least some close escape； and every day a day of
daring deeds； finding momentary shelter at times under the very
boardwalk crossings。 Hating the men and despising the Dogs； he fought
his daily way and held the hordes of Curs at bay or slew them when he
found them few or single； harried the drunkard； evaded men with guns；
learned trapslearned poison； toojust how； we cannot tell； but learn it he
did； for he passed it again and again； or served it only with a Wolf's
contempt。
Not a street in Winnipeg that he did not know； not a policeman in
Winnipeg that had not seen his swift and shadowy form in the gray dawn
as he passed where he would； not a Dog in Winnipeg that did not cower
and bristle when the telltale wind brought proof that old Garou was
crouching near。 His only path was the warpath； and all the world his foes。
But throughout this lurid； semi…mythic record there was one recurring
pleasant thoughtGarou never was known to harm a child。
V
Ninette was a desert…born beauty like her Indian mother； but gray…eyed
like her Normandy father； a sweet girl of sixteen； the belle of her set。 She
might have married any one of the richest and steadiest young men of the
country； but of course； in feminine perversity her heart was set on that
ne'er…do…well； Paul des Roches。 A handsome fellow； a good dancer and a
fair violinist； Fiddler Paul was in demand at all festivities； but he was a
shiftless drunkard and it was even whispered that he had a wife already in
Lower Canada。 Renaud very properly dismissed him when he came to
urge his suit； but dismissed him in vain。 Ninette； obedient in all else；
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would not give up her lover。 The very day after her father had ordered him
away she promised to meet him in the woods just across the river。 It was
easy to arrange this； for she was a good Catholic； and across the ice to the
church was shorter than going around by the bridge。 As she went through
the snowy wood to the tryst she noticed that a large gray Dog was
following。 It seemed quite friendly； and the child （for she was still that）
had no fear； but when she came to the place where Paul was waiting； the
gray Dog went forward rumbling in its chest。 Paul gave one look； knew it
for a huge Wolf； then fled like the coward he was。 He afterward said he
ran for his gun。 He must have forgotten where it was； as he climbed the
nearest tree to find it。 Meanwhile Ninette ran home across the ice to tell
Paul's friends of his danger。 Not finding any firearms up the tree； the
valiant lover made a spear by fastening his knife to a branch and
succeeded in giving Garou a painful wound on the head。 The savage；
creature growled horribly but thenceforth kept at a safe distance； though
plainly showing his intention to wait till the man came down。 But the
approach of a band of rescuers changed his mind； and he went away。
Fiddler Paul found it easier to explain matters to Ninette than he would
to any one else。 He still stood first in her affections； but so hopelessly ill
with her father that they decided on an elopement； as soon as he should
return from Fort Alexander； whither he was to go for the Company； as
dog…driver。 The Factor was very proud of his train Dogsthree great
Huskies with curly； bushy tails； big and strong as Calves； but fierce and
lawless as pirates。 With these the Fiddler Paul was to drive to Fort
Alexander from Fort Garrythe bearer of several important packets。 He
was an expert Dog…driver； which usually means relentlessly cruel。 He set
off blithely down the river in the morning； after the several necessary
drinks of whiskey。 He expected to be gone a week； and would then come
back with twenty dollars in his pocket； and having thus provided the
sinews of war； would carry out the plan of elopement。 Away they went
down the river on the ice。 The big Dogs pulled swiftly but sulkily as he
cracked the long whip and shouted； 〃Allez； allez； marchez。〃 They passed
at speed by Renaud's shanty on the bank； and Paul； cracking his whip and
running behind the train； waved his hand to Ni
