Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-03-31
THE SNOW EATER.
STORY OF A WOLF HINT IN RUSSIA.
By F. CLINTON DARLINGTON.

ferocions, it Is an exciting and skillful
piece of business to hunt them
Three or four hunters, armed with
double barieled rifles place themselves in
the 1roku, y sort of carriage, drawn by
three horses, and receiving its name, no.
from its form, but from the manner in
which the animals are driven-the middle
one being trottcr, and one on each side
always going at a gallop, the whole of them
harnessed abreast
The middle horse trots with his head
very low. and is called the s.snow -eater!'
while others gallop with elevated fronts,
and are called the "imies," because they
arc always leaping and plunging. and
work off so much that the advancing
elnipage presents the appearance of an
open IAN.
A sure Goa. lehman, if any coachman is
sure. is always chosen to drive the froko
on these hunting expeditions.
Behind the carriage is attached Young
kid, by rope or Chain some ten or twelve
feet in length and it is thus conducted
carefully into the forss. where it is iften-
del to commence the hunt. The kid is
then put in the carriage. and the driver
whips up his horses which bound away
at full speed, the middle one trotting and
the other two galloping.
The young kid, not being used to this
sort oftreatment. sets up the most plain
tive and earnest lamentations at his sad
fate. At the first cry, wolf tbrusts his
nose out of the bushes, and starts i'm prr-
suit OF the kid; then three wolves, then ten
wolves, and soon there are fifty of the Zero
cious animals bowling in pursuit.
They dispute with each other the pos
session OF the kid. fighting to see which
will get the nearest; one dasli;ng at him
with stroke of the claws, the other with
snap OF the teeth, till the poo victim
from lamentations, passes to cries of des-
pair. which arouse mo:e of the brute~
from the distant depths of the forest. All
the wolves within the circumference of a
league, hasten to the banquet, and the car
rage is soon pursued by countless troop
Ii is then very agreeable thing to have
a cool driver.
The horses, who have an instructive hor-
ror OF the wolves. become ma,lly exci,el,
and dash onward at furious rate. The
trotter would like to galIop. the gallopers
would like to take the bits ia their teeth.
Away they gol anil the hunters have
nothing to 10 but to load and fire, at ran
dom. 1t being unnecessary to take aim
The kid cries. the horses whinny. the rifles
roar,-the whole forming concert that
might make Mephistopheles iealous.-
Equippage. horses. kid. troops of wolves,
hunters, all is whirlwind driving furi
ously over the snow. and making Il fly in
every direction, like storm cloud gistcn-
ing in the air.
While the driver remains master of his
horses. however excited they may be, all
goes we'll. But if rein breaks, or escapes
his grasp-if trace gives way. or the
troka Is upsct-all is sai,il The next day.
the day after. a week OF ten days later, some
body will find the ruins of the carriage.
the barrels of the rifles. the carcasseS Of the
horses. and the large bones of the hunters
anil the driver.
1t was during Alexander Dumas first
winter in Russia. that he went wof-hunt-
ing with the Prince Garousky and another
friend-the affair coming very near being
the last wolf-hunt to all concerned
A large slcdge was prepared and attach.
Ell to three horses, who were confled to
driver born in the vicinity. and full Of ex-
pericnce. Dumas placed himself face to
the rear, the prince on one side. and their
friend on the other. Thus they arrived
on the steppe. which is nothing more nor
less than IN immense desert covered with
snow-the time being night. anil the moon
shining brightly over the scene; It's reflected
rays ON the SHOW almost equaling the
light Of day.
The ki6 was trown ouf. and the sledge
started. No sooner did the animal feel
himself drawn away. in spite of himself
than he commenced his complaints.
A few wolves appeared, but seemed
fearful. remaining at some distance from
the sledge. Bat their number gradually
Increased, and they as gradually drew nea,
the hunters, who proceeded at only or'lina.
Try speed. as restless as were their stecds
| When the number was increased to about
twenty, they were near enough to tho
Sleuye Tor tnc WORK Oietcstrtcflou 10 com
mence. A single report and wolf fell
somewhat disturbing the eqnanimiiy Of ths
survivors, many of whom fell off from the
chase: but it must be remarked. that thu
greater part OF them. notwithstanding the
proverb, ''that wolf will not eat wolf
threw themselves upon their unfortunat,
relative and tore him TO pieces.
These backsl;lcrs, however. were sool
replaced Howlings responded to howl
ings on all sides. and sharp noses were seen
sticking out from behind cyery bush
while cleaning eyes were as thick below
the horizon. as the stars were above, if no
half So pleasant Enough Of them wcr'
constantly within reach Of the rifles. an.
the hunters kept firing with all possibl'
dispatch.
] But although every shot told. the .rooI
of wolves. instead Of diminishing. contin
ned to increase. Their progress was s.
rapid that they seemed to fly over tn
snow. SO light that they did not create tn
slightest noise-their advancing wave, lik
silent tide, drawing nearer to the sledge
land never for moment retreating. as rap
idly as the hunters loaded and fired.
r4.4 =