The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-10-02
3y ROE L. HENDRICK.

Nobody knows "Crophorn's" exact
age, but she certainly is too vener-
able to be of use on a dairy farm, and
her breed Is as uncertain as her
years; but any suggestion that she
be transformed into beef always
meets with a decided negative from
Tom Ottway.
"She's the mascot of the herd" is
all her owner usually will say in ex-
planation Of her privileges; but some
times, when in a more commun'ca-
tive mood, he will tell how she lost
her right horn and earned her present
name.
It was nearly dozen years ago,
and Crophorn was then known as
Dapple. Late in one Of the hardest
winters the peninsula of Northern
Michigan has ever known she proud
ly stood guard over a spindle-legged
calf only a few days old.
Tom Ottway was not yet married,
and had recently bought the VALLEY
farm, on which only four felds were
fully cleared. His widowed mother
kept house for him. but had been alb
sent for more than a fortnight, visit
ing a sister in Canada. She bad eX-
pected to be away not more than a
week. but was detained by a severe
February storm. The back country
then could be reached only by stage
or in private conveyances.
Tom was very busy while she was
gone. In addition TO feeding the six
teen head of cattle. TIN pigs. poultry
and three horses, and getting his own
meals, he spent every spare moment
in telling trees i'm the south slashing.
He wished to clear at least FIVE acres
there before the sap started so as to
burn the tract over early i'm the sum-
mer.
AS the result of his hard work,
Tom ordinarily slept Well, but OF late
his nights had been disturbed by the
presence OF wolves There were
many big gray ones about, but while
game was abundant they caused him
little anxiety. Now, however. the
deep snow had lesseued their ordinary
supply of food, and they were draw
ing nearer and nearer TO the settled
country. Tom had no neighbors with
In three miles, and his clearing was
one Of the most exposed in the
county.
For nearly a week he had heard a
pack in full cry not far from the open
selds, and then, as their tracks
showed, they had made a dash at the
,attle yard. The high log fence had
repelled them, although in one place
thay had made repeated efforts to
Jump over.
This yard was rooted over at the
west end. and the shed thus formed
was boarded up, except for narrow
gate next 10 the barn. A strawstack
near the centre afforded additional
shelter. the sides having been eaten
away by the young stock till they
could bUrrow practically out of sight.
Here they gathered to sleep at night,
although the shed was deeply bedded
in straw and was usually left open.
The small barn was strong but
temporary structure, only large
enough TO shelter the horses and farm
implements. The combined pigpen
and henhouse was of logs, built as a
leanto, on the south side Of the barn.
On the day following the first ac-
tual visit of the wolves, a sou west
er" gathered itself together some
where over Lake Michigan. and came
shrieking across water, field and for
est 'bringing eighteen inches more
nf fva
heavy. but not damp enough TO pre-
vent it from drifting in hard wind
rows. The backwoods roads were
thus rendered again impassable
Tom heard the hunting cry of the
pack even above the bowling of the
storm; and in going 20 the slashing.
he found a skull and thigh bones
where a belated deer had been pulled
down and devoured Most Of it's sur
yiving companions had gone far to
the southwark long before.
When he started for the house at
sunset he saw two wolves sitting on
their launches on a knoll thirty or
forty rods away, watching him. He
pointed his aX-helye az them. like
gun, and they skunk OF into the tim
ber; but when he reached the barn.
he discovered that Eve lean creatures
had followed him 20 the limits OF the
underbrush.
Tom made everything snug for the
night before attending TO his own
wants. The cattle we're a little ua-
easy; they had already detected the
presence OF the pack. The stout