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 him on you； gol darn ye。〃
IV
Early that winter Jimmie was taken down with a fever。 The Wolf
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 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； 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
Ninette as she stood by the door。 Speedily the cariole with the
sulky Dogs and drunken driver disappeared around the bendand
that was the last ever seen of Fiddler Paul。
That evening the Huskies came back singly to Fort Garry。 They
were spattered with frozen blood； and were gashed in several
places。 But strange to tell they were quite 〃unhungry。〃
Runners went on the back trail and recovered the packages。 They
were lying on the ice unharmed。 Fragments of the sled were strewn
for a mile or more up the river； not far from the packages were
shreds of clothing that had belonged to the Fiddler。
It was quite clear； the Dogs had murdered and eaten their driver。
The Factor was terribly wrought up over the matter。 It might cost
him his Dogs。 He refused to believe the report and set off to
sift the evidence for himself。 Renaud was chosen to go with him；
and before they were within three miles of the fatal place Renaud
pointed to a very large track crossing from the east to the west
bank of the river； just after the Dog sled。 He ran it backward
for a mile or more on the eastern bank； noted