pture of a notorious robber on the highway. There lived in those
days an adventurer, who, alone and unassisted, made it his occupation
to destroy these ravagers. The time for attacking them was in the
night, and midnight was fixed upon for doing so, as that was their
wonted time for leaving their lairs in search of food, when the
country was at rest and all was still; then, issuing forth, they fell
on their defenceless prey, and the carnage commenced. There was a
species of dog for the purpose of hunting them, called the wolf-dog;
the animal resembled a rough, stout, half-bred greyhound, but was much
stronger. In the county Tyrone there was then a large space of ground
enclosed by a high stone wall, having a gap at each of the two
opposite extremities, and in this were secured the flocks of the
surrounding farmers. But, secure as this fold was deemed, it was often
entered by the wolves, and its inmates slaughtered. The neighbouring
proprietors having heard of the noted wolf-hunter above mentioned, by
name Rory Carragh, sent for him, and offered the usual reward, with
some addition, if he would undertake to destroy the two remaining
wolves that had committed such devastation. Carragh, undertaking the
task, took with him two wolf-dogs, and a little boy twelve years of
age, the only person who would accompany him, and repaired at the
approach of midnight to the fold in question. "Now," said Carragh to
the boy, "as the two wolves usually enter the opposite extremities of
the sheep-fold at the same time, I must leave you and one of the dogs
to guard this one while I go the other. He steals with all the caution
of a cat, nor will you hear him, but the dog will, and will give him
the first fall. If, therefore, you are not active when he is down to
rivet his neck to the ground with this spear, he will rise up and kill
both you and the dog. So good night."

"I'll do what I can," said the little boy, as he took the spear from
the wolf-hunter's hand.

The boy immediately threw open the gate of the fold, and took his seat
in the inner part, close to the entrance, his faithful companion
crouching at his side, and seeming perfectly aware of the dangerous
business he was engaged in. The night was very dark and cold, and the
poor little boy, being benumbed with the chilly air, was beginning to
fall into a kind of sleep, when at that instant the dog, with a roar,
leaped across, and laid his mortal enemy upon the earth. The boy was
rou