1.About one hundred and fifty years ago,the people living in a certain part of France were kept in a state of constant terror by a wild beast,that had killed not only a large number of their sheep and cattle,but many of the people also.The strangest thing,however,was that no one knew what kind of animal it was.
2.It had killed more than two hundred persons.It.
4.Any bold huntsman who proposed to go alone to chase this beast was looked on as either a madman or a hero of great daring.One French noble man set outwith twelve soldiers and forty dogs;but their pursuit was vain.Perhaps the hunted animal knew when it was wisest to keep out of the way.
5.After all,it was a child twelve years of age that firs saw the four-footed foe face to face;and he discovered it to be nothing more than a large she-wolf!This brave little fellow,with six smaller children to help him,was watching a flock of sheep.It was in the depth of winter,and the little ones felt the bitter cold very keenly .
6.As they sat colse together,they began talking about the beast,that then lay hidden in some part of the forest near them.The children had fastened old knife-blades to sticks,to fight the monster if it should come to attack them,never dreaming that it would come;and they chattered on,talking of what they would do if they caught sight of the enemy.
7.And they soon did so.Suddenly the hungry wolf rushed out of the wood toward the frightened children!The eldest boy gathered his companions close together,and the fierce animal ran round about them,howling with rage and hunger.Then she darted upon one of the smaller children-a boy six years old-seized him by the arm,and carried him off in her jaws.
8.One boy said,"Let the beast take him,and we can escape."But the eldest called out,"Let us save our comrade,or die with him;"and the brave shepherdlad started with loud cries after the wolf.He was closely followed by his companions,whose courage rose when he led the way.
9.It so happened that the beast ran toward a marsh ,in which she sank so deep that she could not at once get out of the soft clay.The children ran up to her and struck at her with their rude spears;but they could not pierce her tough skin.
10."Strike her in the eyes!"cried the bold little shepherd-"strike her in the eyes!"It was no easy matter to strike the wolf in the eyes;but the children did their best to obey their brave young leader,and gave their enemy several hard blows on the nose and the mouth.She was forced to drop the little boy she had carried away.She had no time to bite him;she had hard enough work to defend herself against the blows of the furious little folks.
11.At last she fled,leaving behind her the child whose life had been saved by the brave little shepherd;for if this lad had been a coward,you may be sure that the wolf would have escaped with her prey.
12.Whether the wolf died of her wounds,or whether she did not think herself safe in that part of the country any longer,she was never more seen or heard of there,and the people were able to live in peace and safety.The King of France gave to the twelve-year-old hero the full reward that had been promised for killing the wolf.
