Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-09-24
FamlshInr Wnlxss.

nad been living for some months in a towr
on the Volga, In the center of European Rus.
sia, forty verst. from Jaroslay, the government
county town. To reach that town I must ira.
verse wild and uninhabited track, where
there were only two small hamlet,, at one OF
which the twenty-verst post station was to be
found II not buried In the snow My team Of
three horses, commonly called In Russia "a
trolka," had been carefully selected from the
various etabling establishments In the nlace !.
the cost for driver and horses to be three and
half roubles (or about guinea, the rouble of a
hundred copecks being worth half penny or tso
more than three shillings), which was no great
price for such journey in such weather. Two
wolves had been killed in our principal street
within week. One had shot in INV own
courtyard the day before we started, and many
reports were current OF their hunger and nm.
usual boldness. IL was even said that amall
village, about thirty versts distant, had been
attacked by them in force. These fact, and
stories made me careful about requisite defens
es. my six-barrel travelling COMPANION was
carefully loaded; and placed In nv belt ready
for use; magnificent inch bear knife in 4
sheath, and formidable black thorn cudgel
heavily weighted at the handle, belonged also
to my armament The brandy flask. bao oi
provisions; bottle of water, matches, cigars, and
portmantesu having been stored away, I was
about to step into the open sledge, when Rus.
sian neighbor came up, and asked leave to ioip
IN the company to Jaroslay. My neighbor
though gentleman for whom had much re-
spect, was the last man should have chosen a,
travelling companion in narrow sledge, for
he weighed over twenty stone, had great diff.
Guilty IN breathing and when once seated, al
most required horse power to get him up again
ne was phlegmatic, good-natured, monosyl
laoic, cigaret smoking monster who was not to
De refused; So his request granted, he rolled on
the right side and filled three parts of the
sledge My Russian house servants crossed
themselves, whereby they meant, "God give
you safe journey" The members of INV own
family cried, "Good-bye, God bless you.H and
the driver having gathered up the rope reins,
jumped in, and with noo-noo to the cattle. off
we went dead against binding drift
tatsldes having observed my weapons, Rrunt-
ed In his own Russian, which he made the least
possible use. "Pistolet, Wolves. Shoot
Good"
emo"
"Well, take THIS bear knife"
"Good," he said again, and relapaed into his
corner.
Daylight came struggling through the heavy
morning clouds, and dibclosed cheerless waste
OF ridges Of valleys Of snow. The trees, which
at wide intervals Indicated the route, did moi
save us from plunging into great pits of soft
snow the moment our driver turned from the
track. This took place so frequently, and gave
US so much trouble in digging ourselves out,
that it was noon before we had made sixteen
Versts,-hardly ten miles-having been six hours
on the way.
At this point in our journey the driver sent
the blood dancing through my veins by the
alarming cry OF Volka! Volka! -" Wolves!
Wolves!" sprang from my seat and, looking
anead, saw slx great gaunt, and no doubt hun.
gty wolves, sitting exactly in our way, at the
distance OF hundred yards or less. Our horaes
had huddled themselves together, trembling In
every limb, and refused to stir. We sboSted
and bawled, but the wolves also refused to stir
my tat friend gathering large handful of hay
from the sedge bottom, rolled it into the shane
OF ball, and handed it to me, saving, "Matcb I"
understood him at once. The driver managed,
by auful lashing and noo.nooing, to get the
horses on, until we came within short distance
OF our enemies. BY this time had succeeded
IN setting tire to the ball of hay, and Just as 1t
began 10 blaze cast it among them. 1t worked
ike q charm. Instantly the wretches parted,
three on each side, and skulked off SLOWLY at
right angles their tails dragging as If they were
beaten ours. On dashed the brave tesm-lasb,
lash-noo, moo. .L
"Hurrah" shouted with liphtened heart.
I'VE are safe this time, thank God!"
"Wait Look back" said Fatsides.
did 30 and saw the wolves, who had Joined
each other again in the center track, psusipg
as IT to deliberate. Our horses were going at
their utmost speed, the driver standing up and
using iaso and voice with all his might to urge
tnem on 70 the station, then only about mile
and half ahead. Luckily the road or track,
as lar as we could see, was free from drift, and
our hope was that We could gain the station be.
lore the wolves, should they pursue us. Look
ing PACK Just as We turned q bend In the track,
l saw the whole pack In swift pursuit.
1 nave been often told that wolves will not
auack party unless In large pack. Yet
mere tney were, coming up to attack us; there
was no doubt OF that: Hunger through long
and severe winter had made them DARING
win the consciousness of an impending death
struggle, prepared for the result. My thoughts
went Tor one moment to my wife and children:
for another, to the Great DIsposer of events.
Then, throwing off my sheepskin coat, 40 as
not to impede the free action of my arms and
legs, sprang on the front seat beside the driver,
put my back to the horses and my face to the
enemy. ! said to the driver, " They are COM
ing, brother; drive fast but steadily. have
six bullets In this pistol. Don't move from
your seat, but drive right in the center of the
track" My fat companion sat still In his cor.
ner, and neither moved nor spoke; but saw
the blade Of my bear-knife cleaning In his
hands,
The track had become worse, 90 that the
horses could not maintain their pace. In short
time the wolves ran beside the sledge; the
horses strained and shot on, keeping their dis.
tance, but in forcing our way through drift, we
came 70 o walking pace, aud the first wolf on
my side made Q dash Of the horse next him.
The pistol was within q foot and half of his
head when ! fired, and the ball went through
his brain. shouted my triumph In English;
my companion echoed ID with a "Bravo!" The
second wolf received my second fire In the leg,
which must have shattered the bone, for he
dropped behind instantly. "Brayo!' was again
cried from the corner. But the same moment
was the moment Of our greatest peril My pis-
tol fell into the sledge, as, with sudden jolt,
our horses foundered up to their bellies in q
deep drift; then they came TO dead stop, and
there was wolf ut each side OF the sledge, at
tempting TO get in.
My bludgeon still remained. With both
hands i raised II high and brought Il down with
the desperate force Of o man In mortal extrem-
ity upon the head Of the wolf near my side.--
he tumbled ever on his back, and the skull was
found Afterwards 70 have been completely