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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；
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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 that…
…but 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
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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 revenge； that evil kind of mind is found in man alone。
The brute creation seeks for peace。
There is then but one remaining bond to chain him； and that the
strongest claim that anything can ownthe mightiest force on earth。
The Wolf is gone。 The last relic of him was lost in the burning
Grammar School； but to this day the sexton of St。 Boniface Church avers
that the tolling bell on Christmas Eve never fails to provoke that weird and
melancholy Wolf…cry from the wooded graveyard a hundred steps away；
where they laid his Little Jim； the only being on earth that ever met him
with the touch of love。
THE LEGEND OF THE WHITE REINDEER
Skoal！ Skoal！ For Norway Skoal！ Sing ye the song of the Vand…dam
troll。 When I am hiding Norway's luck On a White Storbuk Comes riding；
riding。
Bleak； black； deep； and cold is Utrovand； a long pocket of glacial
water； a crack in the globe； a wrinkle in the high Norwegian mountains；
blocked with another mountain； and flooded with a frigid flood； three
thousand feet above its Mother Sea； and yet no closer to its Father Sun。
Around its cheerless shore is a belt of stunted trees； that sends a long
tail up the high valley； till it dwindles away to sticks and moss； as it also
does some half…way up the granite hills that rise a thousand feet；
encompassing the lake。 This is the limit of trees； the end of the growth of
wood。 The birch and willow are the last to drop out of the long fight with
frost。 Their miniature thickets are noisy with the cries of Fieldfare； Pipit；
and Ptarmigan； but these are left behind on nearing the upper plateau；
where shade of rock and sough of wind are all that take their place。 The
chilly Hoifjeld rolls away； a rugged； rocky plain； with great patches of
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snow in all the deeper hollows； and the distance blocked by snowy peaks
that rise and roll and whiter gleam； till； dim and dazzling in the north；
uplifts the Jotunheim； the home of spirits； of glaciers； and of the lasting
snow。
The treeless stretch is one vast attest to the force of heat。 Each failure
of the sun by one degree is marked by a lower realm of life。 The northern
slope of each hollow is less boreal than its southern side。 The pine and
spruce have given out long ago； the mountain…ash went next； the birch and
willow climbed up half the slope。 Here； nothing grows but creeping plants
and moss。 The plain itself is pale grayish green； one vast expanse of
reindeer…moss； but warmed at spots into orange by great beds of
polytrichum； and； in sunnier nooks； deepened to a herbal green。 The rocks
that are scattered everywhere are of a delicate lilac； but each is variegated
with spreading frill…edged plasters of gray…green lichen or orange powder…
streaks and beauty…spots of black。 These rocks have great power to hold
the heat； so that each of them is surrounded by a little belt of heat…loving
plants that could not otherwise live so high。 Dwarfed representatives of the
birch and willow both are here； hugging the genial rock； as an old French
habitant hugs his stove in winter…time； spreading their branches over it；
instead of in the frigid air。 A foot away is seen a chillier belt of heath； and
farther off； colder； where none else can grow； is the omnipresent gray…
green reindeer…moss that gives its color to the upland。 The hollows are still
filled with snow； though now it is June。 But each of these white expanses
is shrinking； spending itself in ice…cold streams that somehow reach the
lake。 These sn*…flaks show no sign of life； not even the 'red…snow' tinge；
and around each is a belt of barren earth； to testify that life and warmth
can never be divorced。
Birdless and lifeless； the gray…green