Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-02-15

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 laundering 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
peremptoIily ordered him to go back
into the house.
Ajax is with me, cried Ole, hating.
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 mad9' shouted father.
Ole stood for moment, ire dilute.
Above the din there now arose q
high-pitched Shrek from: voice we
wonll all have known among hun
dreds 1t gradually became more and
more smothered, and finally resolved
itself into a gurgling moan.
They are killing him." screamed
MART. sobbing aloud.
At this Ole started off as fast as he
could go.
Hector, too, had recognized his com.
radc's call. With a hoarse bark he
flung himself against the hall door,
tearing and scratching with teeth and
claws determined get out.
Then, in heavens name, let him
go, cried father, and Marit flew down
stairs % open the door
Tie huge animal bounded northwarl
with vigorous leaps, past Ole, and not
resting until he had found him whom
he was seeking. Then followed o
matchless display of indomitable
strength and ferocity
Four dogs were engaged in mortal
combat with one tall, powerful wolf,
VINO was just ABOUT 70 get the better
of Ajax. With head rroudly erect,
Hector sprang to the grcIp, seized In .
savage brute and flung it high into the
a r. As it came sprlwling down, hc
throttlel it and slapped the ground
with it like one gone mad, making the
snow fly in all directions.
suddenly he relaxed his hold-the
wolf was deaf.
At the door of the servants hall
stood Ole, with Ajax in his arms. Ilec
tor bounlc / toward them. sniffc
the trembling, bleeding Ajax. al.
thea d.rtcl back into the thicl,cst o.
the ray. Laying the wounded houa /.
on a cushion, Ole hurried northw-r
again, taking witihim two other Ia l..
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 manrled dogs The others
had sllulked away, but their hidcoua
bowling was still making the night
dismal. Hector moved from group to
group. shifting at the dead and fawu-
ing over the injured dogs that lay in
the snow, Licking their wounds.
For more than haitian 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 relinquish
his post and present himself at the
house door As soon as he was adj
mitted he found his way to Ajax. and
with much demonstration of affection
fell to licking the little fellow,
wounds. This task accomplished, he
dropped down with long and weary
sigh. and began t. attend 10 his own.
Ajax crapt Quivering between his
biz comrades legs, turned uncasily a
few times and finally curled himself
up comfortably. He was pretty badly
hurt. having deep cash in the back.
and long. gaping rent i'm the throa,
The next morning traces of the con-
1ict were widespread. Blood dyed the
snow. mangled, feless wrecks were
strewn around, and tufts of hair
drfted about i'm the wind.
People gathered from all parts of the
parish Some fingered about the
woodshed where Ole narrated the
blood-curlling events Of the night,
while he dressed the wolf skins.
All this happened some years ago,
but even to-day in that far-away little
parish i'm Norway the people speak of
that night; and If you should go to the
parsonage You will see close to the
gate of the little garden to your right,
two low mounds where lie the faithful
dogs, Hector and Ajax, who fought the
famous battle with the wolvcs.-From
the Norwegian. in Providence Journal