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Ninette as she stood by the door。 Speedily the cariole with the
sulky Dogs and drunken driver disappeared around the bendand
that was the last ever seen of Fiddler Paul。
That evening the Huskies came back singly to Fort Garry。 They
were spattered with frozen blood； and were gashed in several
places。 But strange to tell they were quite 〃unhungry。〃
Runners went on the back trail and recovered the packages。 They
were lying on the ice unharmed。 Fragments of the sled were strewn
for a mile or more up the river； not far from the packages were
shreds of clothing that had belonged to the Fiddler。
It was quite clear； the Dogs had murdered and eaten their driver。
The Factor was terribly wrought up over the matter。 It might cost
him his Dogs。 He refused to believe the report and set off to
sift the evidence for himself。 Renaud was chosen to go with him；
and before they were within three miles of the fatal place Renaud
pointed to a very large track crossing from the east to the west
bank of the river； just after the Dog sled。 He ran it backward
for a mile or more on the eastern bank； noted how it had walked
when the Dogs walked and run when they ran； before he turned to
the Factor and said： 〃A beeg Voolfhe come after ze cariole all
ze time。〃
Now they followed the track where it had crossed to the west
shore。 Two miles above Kildonan woods the Wolf had stopped his
gallop to walk over to the sled trail； had followed it a few
yards； then had returned to the woods。
〃Paul he drop somesin' here； ze packet maybe； ze Voolf he come
for smell。 He follow sonow he know zat eez ze drunken Paul vot
slash heem on ze head。〃
A mile farther the Wolf track came galloping on the ice behind
the cariole。 The man track disappeared now； for the driver had
leaped on the sled and lashed the Dogs。 Here is where he cut
adrift the bundles。 That is why things were scattered over the
ice。 See how the Dogs were bounding under the lash。 Here was the
Fiddler's knife in the snow。 He must have dropped it in trying to
use it on the Wolf。 And here…what！ the Wolf track disappears； but
the sled track speeds along。 The Wolf has leaped on the sled。 The
Dogs； in terror； added to their speed； but on the sleigh behind
them there is a deed of vengeance done。 In a moment it is over；
both roll off the sled； the Wolf track reappears on the east side
to seek the woods。 The sled swerves to the west bank； where；
after half a mile； it is caught and wrecked on a root。
The snow also told Renaud how the Dogs； entangled in the harness；
had fought with each other； had cut themselves loose； and
trotting homeward by various ways up the river； had gathered at
the body of their late tyrant and devoured him at a meal。
Bad enough for the Dogs； still they were cleared of the murder。
That certainly was done by the Wolf； and Renaud； after the shock
of horror was past； gave a sigh of relief and added； 〃Eet is le
Garou。 He hab save my leel girl from zat Paul。 He always was good
to children。〃
VI
This was the cause of the great final hunt that they fixed for
Christmas Day just two years after the scene at the grave of
Little Jim。 It seemed as though all the Dogs in the country were
brought together。 The three Huskies were therethe Factor
considered them essentialthere were Danes and trailers and a
rabble of farm Dogs and nondescripts。 They spent the morning
beating all the woods east of St。 Boniface and had no success。
But a telephone message came that the trail they sought had been
seen near the Assiniboine woods west of the city； and an hour
later the hunt was yelling on the hot scent of the Winnipeg Wolf。
Away they went； a rabble of Dogs； a motley rout of horsemen； a
mob of men and boys on foot。 Garou had no fear of the Dogs； but
men he knew had guns and were dangerous。 He led off for the dark
timber line of the Assiniboine； but the horsemen had open country
and they headed him back。 He coursed along the Colony Creek
hollow and so eluded the bullets already flying。 He made for a
barb…wire fence； and passing that he got rid of the horsemen for
a time； but still must keep the hollow that baffled the bullets。
The Dogs were now closing on him。 All he might have asked would
probably have been to be left alone with themforty or fifty to
one as they werehe would have taken the odds。 The Dogs were all
around him now； but none dared to close in； A lanky Hound；
trusting to his speed； ran alongside at length and got a side
chop from Garou that laid him low。 The horsemen were forced to
take a distant way around； but now the chase was toward the town；
and more men and Dogs came running out to join the fray。
The Wolf turned toward the slaughter…house； a familiar resort；
and the shooting ceased on account of the houses； as well as the
Dogs； being so near。 These were indeed now close enough to
encircle him and hinder all further flight。 He looked for a place
to guard his rear for a final stand； and seeing a wooden
foot…bridge over a gutter he sprang in； there faced about and
held the pack at bay。 The men got bars and demolished the bridge。
He leaped out； knowing now that he had to die； but ready； wishing
only to make a worthy fight； and then for the first time in broad
day view of all his foes he stoodthe shadowy Dog…killer； the
disembodied voice of St。 Boniface woods； the wonderful Winnipeg
Wolf。
VII
At last after three long years of fight he stood before them
alone； confronting twoscore Dogs； and men with guns to back
thembut facing them just as resolutely as I saw him that day in
the wintry woods。 The same old curl was on his lipsthe
hard…knit flanks heaved just a little； but his green and yellow
eye glowed steadily。 The Dogs closed in； led not by the huge
Huskies from the woodsthey evidently knew too much for
thatbut by a Bulldog from the town； there was scuffling of many
feet； a low rumbling for a time replaced the yapping of the pack；
a flashing of those red and grizzled jaws； a momentary hurl back
of the onset； and again he stood alone and braced； the grim and
grand old bandit that he was。 Three times they tried and
suffered。 Their boldest were lying about him。 The first to go
down was the Bulldog。 Learning wisdom now； the Dogs held back；
less sure； but his square…built chest showed never a sign of
weakness yet； and after waiting impatiently he advanced a few
steps； and thus； alas！ gave to the gunners their long…expected
chance。 Three rifles rang； and in the snow Garou went down at
last； his life of combat done。
He had made his choice。 His days were short and crammed with
quick events。 His tale of many peaceful years was spent in three
of daily brunt。 He picked his trail； a new trail； high and short。
He chose to drink his cup at a single gulp； and break the
glass…but he left a deathless name。
Who can look into the mind of the Wolf？ Who can show us his
wellspring of motive？ Why should he still cling to a place of
endless tribulation？ It could not be because he knew no other
country； for the region is limitless； food is everywhere； and he
was known at least as far as Selkirk。 Nor could his motive be
revenge。 No animal will give up its whole life to seeking
reveng