The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer., 1864-01-15
Adventure with Wolves in Russia.

EaA writer in 'AH the Year Round gives
the following account of d narrow escape
be had in an attack by wolves while max
ing sledge journey on tour from the
Volga to Jaroslav Al Z 24a }i'7AA 9AA
At this pointtin our journey the driver
sent the blood dancing through my veins
by the alarming cry of 'sVoiga! volgae'
"Wolves !! Wolves!' 1 sprang from my
seat, and, looking ahead, saw six great
gaunt and no doubt hungry wolves, sitting
exactly in our way at distance of about
handred yards or less. Our horses had
huddled themselves together, trembling
in every lipb and refused to stir. We
shouted and bawled, but the wolves also
refused to stir. My fat friend, gathering
large handful of hay from the sledge
bottom rolled it into the form of ball,
and handed it to me, saying, snatch" /
understood him at once. The driver
managed by awful lashing and noo-nooing,
to get the horses Oh, until we came within
short distance of our enemies. By
this time had succeeded in setting fire to
the ball of hay, and just as it began to
blaze out well, threw it in among them
1t worked like charm. Instantly the
wretches parted, three ion each side, and
skuked off slowly at right angles, their
tails dragging as if they were beaten cnrs
On dashed our brave team-lash, lash
moo, moo. a. aa h. E u ~ GJfH
"Hurrahw shouted, with a light
ened heart ;"we are safe this time, thank
God !'1li 'gg9GJIt ,uD#amrt ,Itan
"Wait; look back }" said fat-sides.
| / did so, and l saw the wolves, who
had Joined each other again ins the cen.
tire track, pausing as if to deliberate -
Our horses were going at their utmost
speed, the driver standing up and using
lash aud voice with all his might, to urge
them on to the station, then only about
a mile and half ahead Luckily the
road or track, as far as we could see,
was free from drift, and our hope was
that we could gain the station before the
wolves, should they pursue US. Looking
back just as we turned a bend in the
track, L saw the whole pack in swift
pursuit. .t's'
had often been told that wolves will
not attack a party unless in large
pack. Six were no large pack, yet here
they were, coming up to attack US; there
was now no doubt about that. Hunger,
through a long and severe winter, must
have made them dariug With the con-
sciousness ofan impending death-struggle,
l prepared for the result. My thoughts
went for one moment to my wife and
children; for another to the great Dis
poser Of events. Then throwing off my
sheepskin coat, 80 as not to impede the
free action Of my arms and legs, sprang
on the front seat beside the driver, but
with my back to the horses, and my face
to the enemy | said to the driver,
They arc coming, brother; drive fast but
steadily. | have six bullets ia this pistol:
Don't move from your seat; but drive
right in the center of the track" Ny
fat companion sat still 10 bis corner, and
neither moved nor spoke; l saw the blade
of my bear knife cleaning in his hand.
The track had become worse, so that
the horses could not maintain their. pace.
In a short time the wolves ran beside the
sledge the horses strained and shot on,
keeping their distance, but in forcing our
way through drift we came to walking
pace, and the first wolf on my side made
a dash at the horse next him. Tie pis
tol was within foot and a half Of his
head when 1 fired, and the ball went
through'h his brain. Ishouted my triumph
in English my companion echoed i'll
with "Bravo!'' The second wolf re-
ceived my second FIRE in the leg, which
must have shattered the bone, for he
dropped behind instantly. "Bravo .fl
was again cried from the corner. 7 But
the same moment was the MON ent Of our
greatest peril My pistol fell into the
sledgc, rs with sudden joit,F our horses
Houndered up to their bellies In a deep
drift; then they caiiic to d dead stop,
and there was a wolf at each side of the
sledge, attempting to get 10. 3sl9tfN 4
My bludgeoni still ,remaided With both
hands / raisedlit high, aud brought II
down with the desperate force of d man |
10 mortal extremity upon the head OF the
wolf on my side He tumbled over on
his back and the skull was Afterwards
fould TO have been completely smashed
AssI stopped to regain my pistol, i
was astonishsd TO see my companion coolly
thrust one Of. his arms into the wolfsI
mouth, and as cooliy with The iisengaged
hand drawing the knife, witha deep end /
short lesk a2,.oss his fhroaf IA t,,acrl;ar