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As told by Pepe Boucher
Page was a dare-devil kind of man who hunted in the woods and feared nothing. He carried a dirque, or a big long blade knife, that open and shut with some kind of spring on its back. All he did to open the blade was press his finger on the back and puff! it was open. There be plenty of Indians in those days and they knew Page and his beeg knife. Still Page and the Indians be pretty good friends; they know he not be afraid of them or their medicine man. In fact he not think of Heaven nor Hell with fear.
One night he was going home out past Vinegar Hill, a great big black dog stood in the path and growled and gnashed his teeth at Page. The dog did not seem to know that Page never got out of any animals's path so there it stood even when Page said "A bas chien," then wagging his hand said "Au Revoir."
Other dogs get out of the big man's way when he wave his hand. Mais this one come advancing with hideous howls and gleaming red eyes that be like coals of fire in the black of the night. Then Page he be mad at the dog and he said "Bete Noir Vole! Vole!" Mais the black beast did not fly away from him nor turn its eyes from his. With a great leap it came nearer to him by five feet. Then Page cursed and lifted his big foot to kick it in the jaw. With a stealthy pantherlike movement the great frothing beast sprang at his throat.
You bet this time he tried to kick and get his knife to finish the dog whose hot breath was singeing his hair--whose great paws were tearing his shoulders and whose fangs were near his neck. With one of his powerful arms he grab the neck of the dog until his tongue hant out. The shaggy hair on the dog's neck be lashing his face and his eyes blazing with madness. The loup garou be trying to bewitch Page. He know now it be loup garou. He know that nothing but blood could save him. Struggling to use his knife the beast pushed the point against Page to make him draw his own blood. Now had Page not been almost a giant he would have turned right into a loup garou.
Throwing his whole strength into the struggle he pushed the knife through the shaggy fur, deep behind the fore legs of the loup garou. Et Sacre! There in the flash of an eye the beast disappeared in flames as the blood spurted from his veins. Then Page saw--what do you think? I'll be dog-gone you never guess. There stood Page with his shoulders scratched, his hair be singed, his nose poisoned with sulphur breath of the wolf, his knife reeking with the blood of the cursed loup garou; and facing him stood his best friend, Jean Vetal. They look and look at each other! Mais they spoke no word. Soon they part, each going to his own home. The knife had cut Jean Vetal's arm near the elbow, he doctor it and soon it be well, and then he be delivered from the loup garou power.
Page and Vetal never spoke of the horrible animal for 101 days. Mais every one saw that Vetal be powerful kind to Page. Vetal be a rich man, much richer than Page be so he give Page a horse and a cow. After 101 days be over and gone by, they tell their friends and everyone understand how well Vetal treat Page et Pourquoi.
You want to know about the time now! Bien the time sometime be a year and a day, sometime a week and a day, or it be 101 days. Always the extra one day.
EMAIL: rking@indian.vinu.edu