StNicholas . rest; but in Hermanns time, almost a thousandyears ago, they were very numerous there. Great,fierce, shaggy monsters they were, who, whenurged on by hunger, would not hesitate alone toattack men. Hermann and his sister had been told not to lingerin the forest after sundown. But one day the boyespied an eagles nest, and he was so long inreaching it that twilight had ended before theystarted home. Just in the edge of the forest theywere met by a fierce growl, and Hermann hadbarely time to clutch his knife, which was slungat his back, when a wolf rushed upon his sister. The beast was
StNicholas . rest; but in Hermanns time, almost a thousandyears ago, they were very numerous there. Great,fierce, shaggy monsters they were, who, whenurged on by hunger, would not hesitate alone toattack men. Hermann and his sister had been told not to lingerin the forest after sundown. But one day the boyespied an eagles nest, and he was so long inreaching it that twilight had ended before theystarted home. Just in the edge of the forest theywere met by a fierce growl, and Hermann hadbarely time to clutch his knife, which was slungat his back, when a wolf rushed upon his sister. The beast was one of the largest and fiercest ofits kind, and Gertrude must certainly have fallen avictim to its savage attack, had not her brother 94 HERMANN THE BRAVE. [December, placed himself in front, cutting and slashing in away that would have done credit to any of theknights at the Emperor Othos court. But the wolfwas not disposed to give up its supper even then,and plunged at Hermann, rising on its hind legs, and. HERMANN OFFERS BATTLE TO THE WOLF. snarling and gnashing its sharp teeth in a fearfulmanner. The boy stood his ground manfully, and madevigorous defense with his stout knife, while littleGertrude clung to his frock, crying. Finally, hegave the beast a blow that disabled it. Then hestruck another that quite killed it. Hermann cut off the great hairy ears of themonster and thrust them under his girdle, and thenthe two children shouldered their wood and marchedtoward home, as if nothing had happened. Out-side the forest they met their father, who, alarmedby their long absence, was coming in search ofthem. He bore a flaming torch in his hand, andby its light he saw that the boys clothing wasstreaked with great red stains. • What have you been doing? asked he. I have been killing a wolf, was the reply ofthe nine-year-old hero. Killing a wolf! exclaimed the father, stillalarmed, and uncertain whether to believe him. Not so fast, my boy. Where is the wolf ? Back in the forest,
Size: 1334px × 1873px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookpublishernewyorkscribner
