At this time--that is, the fall of 1881--there were great complaints
among the Qu'Appelle ranchmen that the Wolves were increasing in their
country and committing great depredations among the stock. Poisoning
and trapping had proved failures, and when a distinguished German
visitor appeared at the Club in Winnipeg and announced that he was
bringing some Dogs that could easily rid the country of Wolves, he was
listened to with unusual interest. For the cattle-men are fond of
sport, and the idea of helping their business by establishing a kennel
of Wolfhounds was very alluring.
The German soon produced as samples of his Dogs, two magnificent Danes,
one white, the other blue with black spots and a singular white eye
that completed an expression of unusual ferocity. Each of these great
creatures weighed nearly two hundred pounds. They were muscled like
Tigers, and the German was readily believed when he claimed that these
two alone were more than a match for the biggest Wolf. He thus
described their method of hunting: "All you have to do is show them the
trail and, even if it is a day old, away they go on it. They cannot be
shaken off. They will soon find that Wolf, no matter how he doubles and
hides. Then they close on him. He turns to run, the blue Dog takes him
by the haunch and throws him like this," and the German jerked a roll
of bread into the air; "then before he touches the ground the white Dog
has his head, the other his tail, and they pull him apart like that."
It sounded all right; at any rate every one was eager to put it to the
proof. Several of the residents said there was a fair chance of finding
a Gray-wolf along the Assiniboine, so a hunt was organized. But they
searched in vain for three days and were giving it up when some one
suggested that down at Hogan's saloon was a Wolf chained up, that they
could get for the value of the bounty, and though little more than a
year old he would serve to show what the Dogs could do.
The value of Hogan's Wolf went up at once when he knew the importance
of the occasion; besides, "he had conscientious scruples." All his
scruples vanished, however, when his views as to price were met. His
first care was to get Little Jim out of the way by sending him on an
errand to his grandma's; then the Wolf was driven into his box and
nailed in. The box was put in a wagon and taken to the open prairie
along the Portage trail.
The Dogs could scarcely be held back, they were so eager for the fray,
as soon as they smelt the Wolf. But several strong men held their
leash, the wagon was drawn half a mile farther, and the Wolf was turned
out with some difficulty. At first he looked scared and sullen. He
tried to get out of sight, but made no attempt to bite. However, on
finding himself free, as well as hissed and hooted at, he started off
at a slinking trot toward the south, where the land seemed broken. The
Dogs were released at that moment, and, baying furiously, they bounded
away after the young Wolf. The men cheered loudly and rode behind them.
From the very first it was clear that he had no chance. The Dogs were
much swifter; the white one could run like a Greyhound. The German was
wildly enthusiastic as she flew across the prairie, gaining visibly on
the Wolf at every second. Many bets were offered on the Dogs, but there
were no takers. The only bets accepted were Dog against Dog. The young
Wolf went at speed now, but within a mile the white Dog was right
behind him--was closing in.