The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-06-16

reached the steppe that is, an immense prairie
covered with snow. The moon was full and
shone brilliantly, its beams reflected by the snow
gave light scarcely inferior to daylight.
The pig was put out Of the sleigh and the
horses whipped up. AS soon as the pig felt that
he was dragged he began to squeal A wolf or
two appeared, but they were timid and kept a
long ways off, Their numbers gradually in
creased, and as they gained in strength they be-
came bolder There were about twenty wolves
when they came within gun range of the troika -
One of the party fred wolf fell The flock
became alarmed and half fed away. Seven or
eight hungry wolves remained behind to devour
filed On every side bowls answered bowls,
on every side sharp noses and brilliant eyes were
seen peering. The guns ratified volley after
volley, but the flock of wolves increased inste ad
of diminishing, and soon it was not flock but a
vast herd of wolves in thick serri ed columns,
which gave chase to the sleigh
The wolves bounded forward so rapidly they
seemed to fly over the snow, and so lightly not
a sound was heard, their numbers continued to
increase and increase, they seemed to be silent
tide drawing nearer and nearer and which the
guns of the party, rapidly as they were dis
charged, had no effect on them The wolves
formed vast crescent, whose horns began to
encompass the horses. The numbers increased
SO rapidly they seemed to spring out of the
ground. There was something wierd in their ap-
pearence, for where could three thousand wolves
come from in such desert of snow The party
had taken the pig into the sleigh, his squeals
increased the wolves boldness The party
continued to fire, but they had now used above
half their ammunition, and but two hundred
cartridges left, while they were surrounded by
three thousand wolves The two horns of the
crescent became nearer ane nearer, and threaten
ed to envelope the party.
If one of the horses should have given out,
the fate of the whole party was sealed "What
do you think of this, Ivan ?" said Prince Repu
inc, speaking to the driver, ri would rather be
at home, Prince" care you afraid of any evil
consequences ?" "The devils have tasted blood,
and the more you fire the more wolves you'll
have" What do you think is the best thing to
be done" "Make the horses 60 faster" "Are
you sure Of the horses 2" eyes, Prince. -
'Are you sure of our safety" The driver
made no reply. He quickened the horses, and
turned their heads towards home The horses
flew faster than ever. The driver excited them
to increased speed by sharp whistle, and made
them describe a curve which intersected one of
the crescents. The wolvs opened their ranks
and let the horses pass.
The Prince raised his gun to his shoulder
'For Gods sake, don't fire ~ exclaimed the
driver, eve are dead men if you do p He
obeyed Ivan. The wolves, astonished by this
unexpected act, remained motionles fol- a minute
During this minute the trioka was verst from
them When the wolves started again after ii
it was too late, they could not overtake it. A
quarter of an hour afterward they were in sight
of home. Prince Repnino thinks his horses ran at
leact six miles in these fifteen minutes He
rode over the steppe the next day, and found
the bones of more than two hundred wolves.