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twenty…four hours； but the Storm King had planned it otherwise
and sent a heavy…laden eastern blast。 The snow came down in a
furious； steady torrent； hour after hour。 Never before had I seen
such a storm。 All the world was lost in snowsnow； snow；
snowwhirling； biting； stinging； drifting snowand the puffing；
monstrous engine was compelled to stop at the command of those
tiny feathery crystals of spotless purity。
Many strong hands with shovels came to the delicately curled
snowdrifts that barred our way； and in an hour the engine could
passonly to stick in another drift yet farther on。 It was
dreary workday after day； night after night； sticking in the
drifts； digging ourselves out； and still the snow went whirling
and playing about us。
〃Twenty…two hours to Emerson；〃 said the official； but nearly two
weeks of digging passed before we did reach Emerson； and the
poplar country where the thickets stop all drifting of the snow。
Thenceforth the train went swiftly； the poplar woods grew more
thicklywe passed for miles through solid forests； then perhaps
through an open space。 As we neared St。 Boniface； the eastern
outskirts of Winnipeg； we dashed across a little glade fifty
yards wide； and there in the middle was a group that stirred me
to the very soul。
In plain view was a great rabble of Dogs； large and small； black；
white； and yellow； wriggling and heaving this way and that way in
a rude ring； to one side was a little yellow Dog stretched and
quiet in the snow； on the outer part of the ring was a huge black
Dog bounding about and barking； but keeping ever behind the
moving mob。 And in the midst； the centre and cause of it all； was
a great； grim； Wolf。
Wolf？ He looked like a Lion。 There he stood； all
aloneresolute…calm… with bristling mane； and legs braced
firmly； glancing this way and that； to be ready for an attack in
any direction。 There was a curl on his lipsit looked like
scorn； but I suppose it was really the fighting snarl of tooth
display。 Led by a wolfish…looking Dog that should have been
ashamed； the pack dashed in； for the twentieth time no doubt。 But
the great gray form leaped here and there； and chop； chop； chop
went those fearful jaws； no other sound from the lonely warrior；
but a death yelp from more than one of his foes； as those that
were able again sprang back； and left him statuesque as before；
untamed； unmaimed； and contemptuous of them all。
How I wished for the train to stick in a snowdrift now； as so
often before； for all my heart went out to that Gray…wolf； I
longed to go and help him。 But the snow…deep glade flashed by；
the poplar trunks shut out the view； and we went on to our
journey's end。
This was all I saw； and it seemed little； but before many days
had passed I knew surely that I had been favored with a view； in
broad daylight； of a rare and wonderful creature； none less than
the Winnipeg Wolf。
His was a strange historya Wolf that preferred the city to the
country； that passed by the Sheep to kill the Dogs； and that
always hunted alone。
In telling the story of le Garou； as he was called by some；
although I speak of these things as locally familiar； it is very
sure that to many citizens of the town they were quite unknown。
The smug shopkeeper on the main street had scarcely heard of him
until the day after the final scene at the slaughter…house； when
his great carcass was carried to Hine's taxidermist shop and
there mounted； to be exhibited later at the Chicago World's Fair；
and to be destroyed； alas！ in the fire that reduced the Mulvey
Grammar School to ashes in 1896。
II
It seems that Fiddler Paul； the handsome ne'er…do…well of the
half…breed world； readier to hunt than to work； was prowling with
his gun along the wooded banks of the Red River by Kildonan； one
day in the June of 1880。 He saw a Gray…wo1f come out of a hole in
a bank and fired a chance shot that killed it。 Having made sure；
by sending in his Dog； that no other large Wolf was there； he
crawled into the den； and found； to his utter amazement and
delight； eight young Wolves nine bounties of ten dollars each。
How much is that？ A fortune surely。 He used a stick vigorously；
and with the assistance of the yellow Cur； all the little ones
were killed but one。 There is a superstition about the last of a
broodit is not lucky to kill it。 So Paul set out for town with
the scalp of the old Wolf； the scalps of the seven young； and the
last Cub alive。
The saloon…keeper； who got the dollars for which the scalps were
exchanged； soon got the living Cub。 He grew up at the end of a
chain； but developed a chest and jaws that no Hound in town could
match。 He was kept in the yard for the amusement of customers；
and this amusement usually took the form of baiting the captive
with Dogs。 The young Wolf was bitten and mauled nearly to death
on several occasions； but he recovered； and each month there were
fewer Dogs willing to face him。 His life was as hard as it could
be。 There was but one gleam of gentleness in it all； and that was
the friendship that grew up between himself and Little Jim； the
son of the saloonkeeper。
Jim was a wilful little rascal with a mind of his own。 He took to
the Wolf because it had killed a Dog that had bitten him。 He
thenceforth fed the Wolf and made a pet of it； and the Wolf
responded by allowing him to take liberties which no one else
dared venture。
Jim's father was not a model parent。 He usually spoiled his son；
but at times would get in a rage and beat him cruelly for some
trifle。 The child was quick to learn that he was beaten； not
because he had done wrong； but because he had made his father
angry。 If； therefore； he could keep out of the way until that
anger had cooled； he had no further cause for worry。 One day；
seeking safety in flight with his father behind him； he dashed
into the Wolf's kennel； and his grizzly chum thus unceremoniously
awakened turned to the door； displayed a double row of ivories；
and plainly said to the father： 〃Don't you dare to touch him。〃
If Hogan could have shot the Wolf then and there he would have
done so； but the chances were about equal of killing his son； so
he let them alone and； half an hour later； laughed at the whole
affair。 Thenceforth Little Jim made for the Wolf's den whenever
he was in danger； and sometimes the only notice any one had that
the boy had been in mischief was seeing him sneak in behind the
savage captive。
Economy in hired help was a first principle with Hogan。 Therefore
his 〃barkeep〃 was a Chinaman。 He was a timid； harmless creature；
so Paul des Roches did not hesitate to bully him。 One day；
finding Hogan out； and the Chinaman alone in charge； Paul；
already tipsy； demanded a drink on credit； and Tung Ling； acting
on standing orders； refused。 His artless explanation； 〃No good；
neber pay；〃 so far from clearing up the difficulty； brought Paul
staggering back of the bar to avenge the insult。 The Celestial
might have suffered grievous bodily hurt； but that Little Jim was
at hand and had a long stick； with which he adroitly tripped up
the Fiddler and sent him sprawling。 He staggered to his feet
swearing he would have Jim's life。 But the ch