Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-02-15
A FURIOUS FIGHT.
A Night Battle with Wolves in a
Norway Hamlet.

Ny father was a minister in the
small parish of Upper Rendale, in
Norway. When we first settled in
Upper Rendale parsonage the parish
/ had been for years unmolested by
wolves. The old fence that had once
protected the dog kennel had fallen 20
decay, and it had not been thought
worth while to have itreplaeed.
We had two dogs at the parsonage,
jax and Hector. Ajax wasa common
hare hound, white and black saddled.
He was medium-sized and the most
,pirited animal have ever known.
We small boys had many a merry
irolic with him. Often when we had
bounded far beyond us to fetch ball
or a stick one of us had cast he would
lie down, his mead between his paws.
his eyes beaming with ROBUSTNESS, t?
wait till we caught up to him. As soon
as we were near enough to touch him
ne would dart nimbly away, and so he
would keep it up until we dropped
down. unable to take another step.
Then he would roll on the ground with
us bubbling over with mirth lie was
never known to snarl or snap at US,
no matter how rough we might be.
lie flew at every dog large or
small, that appeared on the road.
Swift as lightning, with jaws that
eripped like a wise, and with an in
lomitable will, he usually came off
victorious. When he did get into =
pinch, Hector came growing to his
rescue. and that settled the matter.
Hector was a large yellow st. Ber-
nard of the long-haired kind. We CHI
dren rode him. drove him, and did
pretty much as we pleased with him.
lie followed us like a shadow. The
approach Of strangers was usually
announced by him with a few gruff
barSs and then he permitted Ajax to
furnish the rest of the music. Smaller
dogs than himself Hector never
harmed, and larger ones there were
not for miles around. For Ajax he
cherished a faithful, patient friend
ship. At night Ajax slept in the dog
kennel, while Hector kept guard out
side.
One cold, star-lit evening in Feb
ruary, 1S5s, my brother and |, two
small boys. were coasting on the hill
north of the parsonage, our pointed
caps drawn down over our ears, our
fingers protected by coarse wooden
mittcns. The crisp snow creaked and
rroaned under our heels as we went
up the hill. and shrieked beneath the
steel runners of our sleds as we made
our daring flights downward. Sharply
defined shadows were cast on the
snow by the moon, and Hector and
Ajax, our constant companions, looked
with intelligent eyes at the fairyland
scene about rs.
From the parsonage woodshed stole
the lurid glow Of the pine torch. The
steady sound of chopping there gave
rs that comfortable sense Of security
the nearness of people always brings.
| Otherwise the surrounding stiffness
was undisturbed, save by the occasion
al grooming of some heavily-laden We
hicle ON the road or the slamming of a
door in the distance.
Suddenly my brother seized my arm.
"lIarl,~ whispered he.
From the thicllet above us a long,
hungry howl was ringing through the
night air. II was promptly answered
from a point still farther up the slope,
and presently from the opposite side
OF tle valley. Throwing back his
head. Hector listened intently; Ajax
br',tlcd and growlcd. We boys knew
the sound ard shuddered.
Lets 90 home" said my brother,
lashing our sleds together.
We were on our way down the hill
when some one called us from the par
sonagc.
At the door father was waiting for
Us. lie patted Ilector's head, helped
us boys put up our sleds and brushed
off the snow, and then hurried us into
the house.
The wolves are about" he said
qu city TO mother, as he took up his
paper.
She seemed uneasy and questioned
rs children pretty closely. 4 series of
wolf stories followed, one of them
about man who had a narrow escape
from wolf which had sprung at him
one dark nighton the public highway.
You see, children. you cannot BE-
too careful" said mother, as she rang
the bell for the maid TO bring in sup
per.
While we were still at the table, Ole
Johnson, one of the farmhands, came
in from the woodshed and stood in the
doorway, shivcring.
at might be well to keep the dogs
indoors tonight" said he.
"IIave you seen any wolves?" asked
father.
mo; but heard them awhile ago"
replied Ole.
Take Ajax into the servants hall"
said mother, ''and Hector may sleep in
the nursery
TO have Hector in our room seemed
to us boys the safest, most delightful
thing imaginable. We were quite sure
he was the strongest dog in the world,
and could dispose of twenty, aye, a
hundred wolves.
As we went up to bed, however, our
courage was somewhat shaken by the
distant bowling we heard, and when
Hector came upstairs with MART, the
nurscmaid, we screamed aloud with
fright. We actually thought the wolf
had broken in.
Long after we crept into bed we lay
shivering with cold and dread, until
finally the warmth of the fire MART
had lzindled pervaded the room, and
the cracking flames mingled with
IIector's heavy breathing lulled us to
rest.
How late it was when l started up in
a panic of terror cannot say. A con-
fused blending of snarling and howl
ing filled the arr and on the window
was plainly outlined the huge, dark
head of some animal, with wide-open
jaws
Clapping my hands over my eyes
shrielled out. MART was aroused by
my cry, and coming to my bedside
uc1-a1 Ir,tveilt- t-hot ,voc tho rf,affay-