The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-09-26
The Russian Wolf Hunt,

IdfOllte pleasures OF Inc RUSSIANS. wolves
are hunted in this way in the winter, when
the wolves being hungry are ferocous.-
Three or four huntsmen, each armed with a
double barrelled gun, get into a iroika, which
is any sort of carriage drawn by three
horses-its name being derived from its
team, and rot from its form. The middle
horse trots with his head hanging down,
and he is called the Snow Eater. The two
others have only one rein, and they are
fastened 10 the poles by the middle of the
body, and gallop, their heads free-ihey are
called the Furious. The troika is driven by
a sure coachman, if there is such thing in
the world as a sure coachman. A pig is
lied TO the rear of the vehicle by rope, or
cham qor greater security some twelve
yards long. The pig is kept in the vehicle
until the huntsmen reach the forest where
the hunt is 10 take place, when he is taken
out and the horses started. The pig, not
being accustomed to this gait, squeals aod
his squeals soon degenerate into lamenta-
tons. His cries bring out one wolf, who
gives the pig chase; then two wolves, then
three, then ten, then fifty wolves-a post
ing as hard as they can go after the poor
! pig, fighting among themselves for the best
places, snapping and striking at the poor
/ pig al every opportunity, who squeals with
despair. These squeala of agony arouse
| all the wolves in the forest, within circuit
of three miles, aud The troik is followed by
an immense flock OF wolves. 1t is now
good driver is indispensable. The horses
have an instructive horror for wolves, and
go almost crazy; they run as fast as they
can go.
The huntsmen fire as fast as they can
| load there is no necessity to take any aim
| The pig seueals-the horses neigh-lhe
wolves howl-the guns rattle it is con-
cert 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 10 be master
of them if they balk, if the troika is upset,
there is no hope. The next day, or the day
after, or week afterwards, nothing will re-
main of the party but the wreck of The
hiroika. the barrels of the guns. and the lar
driver
Last winter Prince Pepnine went on one
| of these hunts, and it came very near being
his last hunt. He was on visit with two
| of his friends to one of his estates near the
s,eppe, and they determined 10 go on a
wolf hunt. They prepared large sleigh in
! which three persons could move al ease,
three vigorous horses were put into it, and
iney selected !cr a driver man born in the
country, and thoroughly experienced N the
sport. Every hunismau had pair of double
barrel guns, and one hundred and fifty ball
cartriges II was night when they reached
the sleppe that is an immense prairie COW
cred with snow. The moon was full, and
shone brilliantly its beams refracied by
the snow gave light scarcely inferior to
day light.
! The pig was put out of the sleigh and the
horses whipped up. AS soon as the pig
fell that he was dragged he began TO squeal.
A wolf or two appeared; but they were
timed and kept long way off. Their num-
bers gradually increased, and as they gain
ed in strength they became bolder. There
were about twenty wolves when they came
within gun range of the lroika. One OF The
party fired; wolf fell The flock became
alarmed and half fed away. Seven or
eight hungry wolves remained behind 10
deyour their dead companion. The gaps
were soon filed. On every side howls an
swered howls; on every side sharp noses
and brilliant eyes were seen peering The
guns ratified volley after voIley; but the
flock OF wolves increased instead of dimin-
ishing, and soon it was not flock, but a
EAST herd of wolves in thick serrid columns,
which gave chase to the sleigh.
The wolves bounded forward so rapidly
they seemed to fly over the snow, and so
lightly not pound was heard; their num-
bers continued to increase and increase, and
| increase they seemed TO be a silent tide
drawing nearer and nearer, and which the
guns of the party, rapidly as they were dis
charged, had no effect on. The wolves
| formed vast crescent, whose horns began
to encompass the horses. The numbers in
creased so rapidly they seemed to spring
out of the ground. There was something
weird in their appearance, for where could
three thousand wolves come from in such a
desert of snow? The party had taken the
! pig into The sleigh; his squeal increased
the wolves boldness- The party continued
TO fire, but they had now used above half
their ammunition, and but two hundred
cartriges left, while they were surrounded
| by three thousand wolves. The two horns
Of the crescent became nearer and nearer,
and threatened 10 envelope the whole party.
| If one of the horses should have given
out, the fate of the whole party was sealed.
eWhat do you think of this, Ivan 2" said