The Trapper
As told by Marvin J. Ashton


 

A trapper and his wife came to the Alaska wilderness.  Shortly thereafter, she died leaving him alone with their two year old child.  To go out into the woods in the course of his trapping, the man had sometimes left the child for a couple hours in the care of their faithful dog.  On such an absence one afternoon a terrible blizzard came up.  The storm was so terrible that he had to take refuge in a hollow tree to save his life.  At daybreak he rushed to his cabin and found that the door was open.  His dog, who looked at him from the corner of his eyes, was covered with blood.

The father's blood froze in his veins.  Just one thing had happened--his dog had turned wolf and had killed his child.  With a sad heart, he killed his trusted animal. 

Like a maniac he scanned the scene.  In hopeless desperation he uncovered the gruesome remnants of his cabin.  Tipped over, the cracked furniture told the story of the battle that had taken place just a short time before.  A faint cry came from under the bed.  Again his heart seemed paralyzed.  There he found his child safe and sound.  Just a moment of pause to cuddle his dear one in his arms, and he was off to determine whence the blood on his dog had come.  The answer came just a second later.  The sad riddle was solved.  In a remote corner, there it was - a dead wolf, his huge mouth showing fangs intended for the baby which his faithful dog had saved.