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Lower Canada。 Renaud very properly dismissed him when he came to
urge his suit； but dismissed him in vain。 Ninette； obedient in all else；
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would not give up her lover。 The very day after her father had ordered him
away she promised to meet him in the woods just across the river。 It was
easy to arrange this； for she was a good Catholic； and across the ice to the
church was shorter than going around by the bridge。 As she went through
the snowy wood to the tryst she noticed that a large gray Dog was
following。 It seemed quite friendly； and the child （for she was still that）
had no fear； but when she came to the place where Paul was waiting； the
gray Dog went forward rumbling in its chest。 Paul gave one look； knew it
for a huge Wolf； then fled like the coward he was。 He afterward said he
ran for his gun。 He must have forgotten where it was； as he climbed the
nearest tree to find it。 Meanwhile Ninette ran home across the ice to tell
Paul's friends of his danger。 Not finding any firearms up the tree； the
valiant lover made a spear by fastening his knife to a branch and
succeeded in giving Garou a painful wound on the head。 The savage；
creature growled horribly but thenceforth kept at a safe distance； though
plainly showing his intention to wait till the man came down。 But the
approach of a band of rescuers changed his mind； and he went away。
Fiddler Paul found it easier to explain matters to Ninette than he would
to any one else。 He still stood first in her affections； but so hopelessly ill
with her father that they decided on an elopement； as soon as he should
return from Fort Alexander； whither he was to go for the Company； as
dog…driver。 The Factor was very proud of his train Dogsthree great
Huskies with curly； bushy tails； big and strong as Calves； but fierce and
lawless as pirates。 With these the Fiddler Paul was to drive to Fort
Alexander from Fort Garrythe bearer of several important packets。 He
was an expert Dog…driver； which usually means relentlessly cruel。 He set
off blithely down the river in the morning； after the several necessary
drinks of whiskey。 He expected to be gone a week； and would then come
back with twenty dollars in his pocket； and having thus provided the
sinews of war； would carry out the plan of elopement。 Away they went
down the river on the ice。 The big Dogs pulled swiftly but sulkily as he
cracked the long whip and shouted； 〃Allez； allez； marchez。〃 They passed
at speed by Renaud's shanty on the bank； and Paul； cracking his whip and
running behind the train； waved his hand to Ninette as she stood by the
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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
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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。