The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-03-14


his head l had seen, barked loudly,
and standing on his hind legs, with his
fore paws on the window sill, made q
desperate effort to, see through the
frost-painted glass
Moving tow ard the window MART
cleared q space and stood pecring out
into night In an instant I was at her
side, barefoot and trembling. To my
dying day shall never forget the sight
we saw.
In an open space on the hillside,
north of the parsonage, dark mass
was writhing and tossing on the snow
amid snarls and howls that rent the
cir like the roar of a distant waterfall.
"Wolves!' murmured MART. grasp
ing my arm.
Just then mother opened the door
leading into the hall, and Hector,
darting past her, sprang down the
steps and was only stopped by the
front door.
Mother gave orders to put the chill
dren's clothes on, and it was not long
before everyone in the house was
dressed and at the window command.
ing view of the struggle.
Famous for ali time in the parish
will be that battle fought between six
or seven wolves and the fiercest dogs
in the vicinity. Long-drawn howls,
shrill, excited yelps and smothered
groans woke the echoes of the night.
quivered in every limb as watched
the thrilling spectacle presented by
the strong gaunt wolves contending
with the small dogs that sprang into
the air, came floundering down, rolled
over and over and darted forward again.
Suddenly a man was seen running
from the direction of the servants
hall. 1t was Ole johnson.
Father threw open the window and
peremptorily ordered him to go back
into the house.
Ajax is with me, cried Ole, halting.
"Let Hector loose" he cried,
presently.
Then, Fastening to the woodshed, he
seized an ak and was about starting
for the scene Of the combat.
"Stay where you are! Have you
gone stark mad?" shouted father.
Ole stood for a moment, irresolute.
Above the din there now arose q
high-pitched shrek from a voice we
wonld all have known among hun.
| dreds. 1t gradually became more and
more smothered, and finally resolved
itself into gurgling moan.
"They are killing him!" screamed
Marit, sobbing aloud.
At this Ole started off as fast as he
could go.
Hector, too, had recognized his com.
rade's call. With hoarse bark he
flung himself against the hall door,
tearing and scratching with teeth and
claws, determined to get out.
Then, in heavens name, let him
CO." cried father, and Marit few down
stairs to open the door.
The huge animal bounded northward
with vigorous leaps. past Ole, and not
resting until he had found him whom
he was seeking. Then followed a
matchless display of indomitable
strength and ferocity.
-Four dogs were engaged in mortal
combat with one tall. powerful wolf,
who was just about to get the better
of Ajax. With head proudly erect,
Hector sprang to the group, seized the
savage brute and flung il high into the
air. AS it came sprawling down, he
throttled it and slapped the ground
with it like one gone mad, making the
snow fly in all directions
Suddenly he relaxed his hold-:he
wolf was dead.
At the door of the servants hal!
stood Ole, with Ajax in his arms. Eec.
tor bounded toward them, shifted at
the trembling, bleeding Ajax, and
then darted back into the thickest OF
the fray. Laying the wounded hound
on cushion, Ole hurried northward
again, taking with him two other lads,
each armed with an ak.
When they reached the battlefield
the result of the combat was decided.
Four wolves lay dead or dying among
a heap of mangled dogs. The others
had skulked away, but their hideous
bowling was still making the night
dismal. Hector moved from group to
group, shifting at the dead and fawn.
ing over the injured dogs that lay in
the snow, licking their wounds
For more than half an hour he paced
to and fro, laid down, got up again
and showed every sign of intense ex.
element Not until all the living
dogs had gone home did he rellnquish
his post and present himself at the
house door. AS soon as he was ad.
mitted he found his way to Ajax, and
with much demonstration of affection
fell to licking the little fellows
wounds This task accomplished. he
dropped down with long and weary
sigh, and began to attend to his own.
Ajax crapt quivering between his
big comrades legs, turned uneasiiy =
few times and finally curled himsel,
up comfortably. He was pretty badly
hurt, having deep cash in the back
and long. gaping rent in the throat
The next morning traces of the oon
flict were widespread. Blood dyed the
snow, mangled, lifeless wrecks wore
strewn around, and tufts of hal,
drifted about in the wind.
People gathered from all parts of The
parish. Some fingered about the
woodshed where Ole narrated tn,