Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1895-01-17
A FL RIOUS FIGHT.
\ Might Battle with Wolves IN a
Norway Hamlet

~ AAAuNA VS. . uAANNHAEE N Tue
small parish Of Upper Rendale. in
Norway When we first settled in
Upper Reudale parsonage the parish
had been for wears unmolested by
wolves. The old fence that had once
protected the dog kennel had fallen "a
decay, and II had not been thought
worth while n have il replaced-
We had two dogs at the parsonage.
Ajax and Hector Ajax wasa commou
hare hound, white aud black saidIed.
lie vas megium-sized and the most
spirited animal I have ever known
We small boys had many a merry
frolic with him Often when we had
bounded far beyond Us 70 fetch a ball
or a stick one Of rs had east he would
lie down. his head between his paws.
his eyes beamJng with roguishness. %
wait till we caught up . him As soon
as We were near enough 10 touch aim
he would dart nimbly away. and so he
would keep il up until We dropped
down. unable - take another step.
Then he would roll on the ground with
Us. bubbiing over with mirth. He was
1LHNA ~ 0AAaA 20 map a. Us
no matter how rough we might be-
he few a. every dog large or
small. that appeared on the road.
swift as lightning with Jaws that
grippei like a wise. and with an in
domitabls will, he usually came Off
victorious When h. did get into a
pinch. Hector came growing 10 his
rescue. and that settled the matter.
Hector was a large yellow 81 Ber~
nard Of the ionZ-haired kind We chill
dren rode aim. drove him. and did
pretty much As We pleased with him
He followed Rs Ike a shadow The
approach Of strangers was usually
announced ny him with a few xrnff
barks and then he permitted Ajax to
furnish the rest Of the music smaller
dogs than himself Hector never
harmed. aud larger oues shere were
not for miles around For Ajax Ne
cherished a faithful patient friend
ship At uight AJAX slept in the dog
kennel. while Hector kept guard out
side.
One cold. star-lit evening ia Feb
ruary. I-5s, my brother and I. txu
small boys. werc coasting on the hill
north Of the parsonage, our pointed
caps drawn down over our ear< our
fingers protected BY eoarse wooden
mitt-ns The crisp snow creaked and
grUaned under cur heels as we went
up the hill. and shrieked beneath the
steel runner Of our sleds a. we made
our daring fights downward Sharply
defined shadows we're cast on the
snow By the moon. and Hector and
Ajax, oar coustaHteomPaaiOus. looked
with intelligent eyes Al the tairyland
scene about Us
From the parsonage woodshed stole
the lurid glow Of the pine torch The
steady sound Of chopping there gave
the nearn.ss Of people always brings.
Otherwise the surrounding stiffness
was undisturbed. save by the occasion
al groaning Of some heaviIy-Iaden We.
hicle On the road 0r the slamming of :
door in the distance
Suddenly NY brother seized nv arm
"Hark~ whispered he.
@AA1 AAHraE Ah1HE IL a AIAA
hungry howl was ringing through ths
night air. It was promptly answered
from a point still farther up the slope
and presently from the opposite side
OF the valley. Throwing back hi,
head, Hector listened intentIy. Aial
bristled and growled- We boys kuos
the sound and s~huddered.
Let's go home. said my brother
laShing M sIeds together
We were on our way down the hill
when some n called us from the par
sonage.
At the door father was waiting foI
Us. He pstted Hectors head. helpe,
rs boys put up our sIeds and brushed
of the o and then hurried US int.
the house
The wolves are about. he sais
quietly To mother. a. he took up hi
paper.
She seemed uneasy and q~uestione,
Us children pretty closely A series OF
wolf stories followed. one Of then
about a man who had a narrow escaB,
from Il wolf which had sprung AZ hin
n dark uighton the public highway
You see children. you cannot b,
too careful. said mother, as she ram
the bell for the maid % bring in sun
per
While we were still at the table. Oh.
Johnson. one Of the f~armhands. cam,
in from the wOodshed and stood in Tn,
doorway. shivering
1t might be well to keep the dog,
indoors tonight. said he.
Have YOU seen any wolvesa" asked
father.
No but I heard them awhile ago.
replied ole
Take AJAX into the hall.
said mother, and Hector may sleep II
the nursery
To have Hector in our room ,eemef
20 US boys the safest. most delightful
thing Imaginable We were quite sur,
he was the strongest dog in the world
and could dispose Of twenty. ave. A.,
hundred wolves
As we went up 10 bed. however. oul
courage WIS somewhat shaken By tn.
distant bowling We heard. and wher
Hector came upstairs with Marit. III.
nursemaid, we screamed aloud witt
fright We actually thought the vol
had broken in.
Long after we erept into bed we La
~shIvering with cold and dread. unit
finally the warmth Of the fire Mar
had kindled pervaded the room. an,
the cracking flames mingled wit
Hect0rs heavy breathing lulIed US I
rest
How late Il was when / started up /
a panic Of terror cannot say. A cor
fused blending Of snarling and how
ing filed the AIR. and on the windo,
was plainly outlined the hinge, dar
head Of some animal, vita wide-ope
jaws
Ciapping nv hands over my eyes
shrieked out Msrit was aroused b
my cry, and coming 70 my bsdsid
asked drowsily what was the matte
Look I cried. pointing
At tbs moment Hecter, for Il va
his bead / had seen. barked loud,
and standing On als hind legs. with b.
teFs PAYS ~ tRs widow sill. made