Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-06-10
A RUSSIAN WoLF-HUNT.

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Petersburg.
Wolfhunting and bear-bunting are the
fayorite pleasures of the Russians
Wolves are hunted in this way in the
winter, when the wolves being hungry
are ferocious. Three or four huntsmen.
each armed with double-barreled gun,
get into troika, which is any sort of car
riage drawn by three horses--its name
being derived from its team and not its
form. The middle horse trots with his
head hanging down, and he is called the
snoweater. The two others haZe only
one rein, and they are fastened to the
poles by the middle of the body, and
gallop with their heads free; they are
called the furious. The troika is driven
by sure coachman, if there is such
thing in the world as a sure coachman.-
A pig is tied to the rear of the vehicle
by a rope, or a chain for greater securi-
ty,) some twelve yards long. The pig is
kept in the vehicle until the huntsmen
reach the forest where the hunt is to
take place, when he is taken out and the
horses started. The pig, not being ac-
customed TO this gait, squeals, and his
squeals soon degenerate into lamenta-
tions. His cries bring out one wolf, who
gives the pig chase then two wolves,
then three, then ten, fifteen wolves, all
posting as hard as they can go after the
poor pig, fighting among themselves for
the best places, swapping and striking at
the poor pig at every opportunity, who
squeals with despair. These squeals Of
agony arouse all the wolves in the forest
within a circuit of three miles, and the
troika is followed by an immense flock
OF wolves. 1t is now a good driver is
indispensable. The horses have an in
stinctive horror of wolves, and go almost
crazy; they run as fast as they can CO.
The huntsmen fire as fast as they can
load. There is no necessity to take any
aim. The pig squeals-the horses neigh
the wolves howl--the guns rattle; it
as q concert to make Mephistopheles
Jealous, As long as the driver commands
his horses, fast as they may be running
away, there is no danger. But if he
ceases to be master of them,if they baulk,
if the troika is upset, there is no hope
The next day, or the day after, or week
afterwards, nothing will remain of the
party but the wreck of the troika, the
barrels of the guns, and the larger bones
of the horses, huntsmen and driver.
Last winter Prince Rupert went on
one of these hunts, and it came very
near being his last hunt. He was on a
visit, with two of his friends, to one OF
his estates near the steppe, and they de-
termined to go on wolf hunt. They
prepared large sleigh, in which three
persons could move with ease; three
vigorous horses were put into it, and they
selected for driver man born in the
country, and thoroughly experienced il
the sport. Every huntsman had pail
of double-barrel guns and a hundred and
fifty ball cartridges. 1t was night wher
they reached the steppe; that is, an i'm
mense prairie covered with snow The
moon was full and shone brilliantly it
beams refracted by the snow gave ligh
scarcely inferior to daylight. The pig
was put out of the sleigh, and the horse
whipped up. As soon as the pig felt tina
he was dragged he began to squeal. 4
wolf or two appeared, but they wer,
tinid and kept a long ways off. Thei
numbers gradually increased, and a
their numbers augmented they becam
bolder. There were about twenty wolve
when they came within gun range Of tn
rroika.
One of the party fired wolf FELL
The flock became alarmed, and half fe
away. Seven or eight hungry wolve
remained behind to devour their dea
companions. The gaps were soon filled
On every side howls answered howls; o
every side sharp noses and brilliant eye
were seen peering. The guns rattle
volley after volley. But the flock
wolves increased instead of diminishing
and soon it was not flock, but va
herd of wolves in thick, serried column
which gave chase to the sleigh. I'll
wolves bounded forward SO rapidly the
seemed to fy over the snow, and 1
lightly not sound was heard the
numbers continued to increase, and il
crease, and increase; they seemed TO
silent tide drawing nearer and neare
and which the guns of the party, rapid
IS they were discharged had no effect o.
The wolves formed vast crescent who:
horns began TO encompass the horses
Their number increased SO rapidly the