Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

Some winters back, in a part of the vast forest that stretches along the Upper Norwegian frontier, were traveling two gentlemen-one a native the other an Englishman. They had gone on many weary miles through the waste of snow and forest, when climbing a steep ascent, some two hours’ from the place of their destination, they left the sledge and walked, thereby relieving the horse, and at the same time stretching their own cramped limbs. A large dog [a cross of the bull and mastiff, and English born] trotted slowly at their heels, and appeared to share with them the gloom which the monotonous gloom of a winter forest never fails to cast over even the most volatile disposition. Having attained the hilltop, the travelers, at the moment of re-entering the sledge perceived a wolf of gigantic size following in their track. They dragged the dog, whom was a great favorite, into the sledge with them, and put the horse to full speed. As, by inconceivable imprudence, they had ventured unarmed in the forest, their only chance of safely was flight, and while the descent was in their favor, they outstripped their pursuer; but the horse, though winged by fear, as his dropped ears and quivering limbs too plainly told, was already jaded: he soon slackened his speed, and faint and trembling he staggered feebly onward, his strength rapidly deserting him. Only one resource now remained, which was to slip the dog, who might possibly hold the wolf in check sufficient time to allow of their escape. However reluctant to consign the poor animal to certain death, self-preservation forced them to adopt this last and only expedient.
The wolf was within a few yards when they loosed him, and instantly the two had grappled, and rolled in the snow. As if he knew that life was at stake, the horse now sprung forward desperately, and never paused in his career, until he fell expiring in the courtyard of -, That night, while in ease and security the travelers were forgetting the danger, a faint moan was heard at the gate. It was the dog. Covered with blood and wounds, the faithful creature crawled to his master’s feet and expired. The woods were searched the next morning, and in the spot where the up-torn snow attested the length and fierceness of the conflict, the wolf was found dead. He was the largest seen in those parts within the memory of man.