The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-04-17
4 FURIOUS FIGHT.
4 Night Battle with Wolves In a
Norway Hamlet.

My father was minister in the
small parish of Upper Rendale, ia
Norway. When we first settled in
Upper Rcndalc parsonage the parish
had been for years unmolestcd by
| wolves. The old fence that had once
| protected the dog kennel had fallen to
decay, and it had not been tn ought
worth while TO have itrcplaced.
We had two dogs at the parsonage,
Ajax and Hector. Ajax wasa common
hare hound, white and black saddled.
lie was mcdium-sizcd and the most
| spirited animal have ever known.
We small boys had many q merry
frolic with him. Often when we had
bounded far beyond us to fetch u ball
or stick one of us had cast he would
lie down, his head between his paws,
his eyes beaming with ROBUSTNESS. to
wait till we caught up to him. AS soon
as we were near enough to touch him
he 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.
He flew at every dog, large or
small, that appeared on the road.
Swift us lightning, with jaws that
gripped like wise, and with an in
domitable will, he usually came off
victorious. When he did get into u
pinch, Hector came growing to his
rescue, and that settled the matter.
Hector was q large yellow st. Ber-
nard of the lonS-haircd kind. We chill
dren rode him, drove him, and did
pretty much as we pleased with him.
lie followed us like shadow. The
approach of strangers was usually
announced by him with few gruff
barks, 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 q 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, 1858. my brother and I, two
small boys, were coasting ON the hill
north OF the parsonage, our pointed
caps drawn down over our ears, our
1913 PtOSSCtCNt ny CO0TSc WOODEN
mittens. The crisp snow creaked and
groaned 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 tho fairyland
scene about us.
From the parsonage woodshed stole
the lurid glow Of tho pine torch The
steady sound Of chopping there gave
us that comfortable sense of security
tho nearness Of people always brings.
Otherwise the surrounding stiffness
was undisturbed, save by the occasion
al grooming of some henvily-laden We
hicle on the road or the slamming of a
door in the distance.
Suddenly my brother seized my arm.
"uark!" whispered he
From the thicl1et above us a long.
hungry howl was ringing through the
night air. 1t was promptly answered
from point still farther up the slope,
and presently from the opposite side
of the valley. Throwing back his
head, Hector listened intently; Ajax
bristled and growled. We boys knew
the sound and shuddered.
Lets go home" said my brother,
flashing our sleds together.
We were on our way down the hill
when some one called us from the par
sonage.
At the door father was waiting for
us. lie patted uector's head, helped
us boys put up our sleds and brushed
of, the snow, and then hurried us into
the house.
"The wolves are about" he said
quietly to mother, as he took up his
paper.
She seemed uneasy and questioned
us children pretty closely A series of
about man who had narrow escape
from wolf which had sprung at him
one dark night on 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 wcre still at the table, Ole
johnson, one of the farmhands, came
in from tho woodshcd and stood in the
doorway, shivering.
1T might be we'll to keep the dogs
indoors tonight" said he.
"liavc you seen any wolyes?" asked
father.
mo; but heard them awhile ago."
replied Ole.
Take Ajax into the servants hail."
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 quito sure