The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-01
HEN's BATTLE IN THE VALLEY
Brave Dog Fought Three Wolves the
-.t. Flock In His Care

gray prairie brutes
variety tall strong and savage Moss went to the Home
ranch and borrowed pistol which he strapped to his
waist; but he saw wolves
On bright day in early FEBRUARY the flock feeding
within three miles of Bufdae hamlet of shop and
three dwellings he longing for cheese.
Men on lonely ranches get strange ideas desires
times For week he had been seeing smelling and almost
tasting slabs of firm white soft delicious American cheese
He fought off his craving for WHILE then yielded There
seemed danger Not cloud the sky the flock
quiet Ben was wide awake and actve he would be back
at most, hour
Ben, I'm going to Blundale to cheese-whte
American cheese You stay here and III be back You
have if you like it..
Ben wagged his tail, and to show that he understood
put his the mans shoulder. Moss rapidly
the hills to the eastward his friend left
alone -,
Ben first all sheep, which feeding
valley with every All be
well with the big fock but he went halfway neigh
boring hillside squaed his launches observed
them with kindly eye. got up walked
back and forth like sentry duty 1t occurred to him
that look at the country could harm he went
the of the hill his back nothing
sight Three sheep strayed the opposite slope He
after them at passed whrled.
charged upon them, believe bite them
natured grin, resumed his would
hurt a sheep for the world An hour passed
srnelled nothngbut the bristles his
He glanced keenly valley hills
the edge of the hill the tip of for
slant then disappear? The sheep placid He troed
into the valley then the slope He had
but few feet when his farng nosrs Of
thing strange and Instncvely growled
An ordinary dog would have turned tail saved
himself; rashl brave dog would have forward to
death Ben did neither He reasoned and in second Of
course % duty
the sheep first and himself next.
He darted down into the valley bayng savagey at the
scared feeders There was new note in his and they
thought that this time going STAY of
universal panic bounded up
speed Then the Of the level little bottom
Ben turned and set himself serny for he what he
would See H. ---~
Tearing down hillside wolves,
ing as large One hue, a yard in
the ead two of nearly black behind it; and
as they their wild cry rang.
did alter. blood had Wis
strong heart One heavy growl tore it's from
him; thereafter until the bloody end fought his fight
Indian With the instinct Of his sre's kingy
that for generations had met danger thap half
way meet his foes. The wolf his
get straight it's throat Together they rolled
on the brown sWard But the other wolves turned to ala
their companion. "
The a slicing fighter snaps rapidly,
making gashe not deep but and weakening Bens
saghounds hold. his fastened
their place. and his teeth sunk into his He
stood there above the big red warrior squeezing out the 1e
the other two each tall and strong himself
upon him. One gashed his launches and back in dozen
places The other seized his right foreleg above the knee
and contrary habit held and gnawed it, Ben did not
whmper red wolf put out of combat by that first
plunge, choked hard and still Ben
caught the second by the top of its
neck mighty wrench broke its hold his leg and
threw it its back Then he shifted his to the throat
while the third foe gshed and gashed him
second wolf died, and he wheeled dizzily to meet
third All red before Bens eyes, his breath came
thicAy; fall But his splendid
in him, and he nped weakly yard forward the
eaped at him. and its fangs clicked savagey
hold, passing him, darted the hillside
and in of sight. Ben turned to
watch it, then fell his side He was crimson where
skin from his ribs he blind from exhaus
heard the rapid step Of his friend and the voice
which said oh Ben! Benz
himself in coat and carried tender
" to creek half mile away where his wounds were
bound Then taken to the cabin
and ointment wounds and he laid
till then did Moss in search of the sheep
which were grazing together and unframed.
mping about the corral week afterward, and
in good He silver collar thai
the ranchmen bought it gold plate which
fold the story Of valley.
again left hils-From H S. Canfeld's Ben
Nicholas
n of Victoria
The Riviera memorial to the late Queen Victoria is tt
take the form cottage hospital at Nice
At the