The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-12
A Russian WOLF Hunt.
A SKETCH BY DUMAS.


Wolf hunting and bear hunting are the
favorite pleasures of the Russians. Wolves
are hunted in this way in the winter,
when the wolves being hungry are fero-
cIous. Three or four huntsmen, each
armed with a double barreed gun, get
into troika, which is any sort of car
riage, drawn by three horses-its name
being derived from its team, and not from
its form. The middle horse trots always;
the left hand apd right hand hesses must
slaways gaaibp The middle horse trots
with his head hanging down, and be is
called the Snow Eater. The two others
have only the one rein, and they are fas-
tened to the polls 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 q sure coach
man. a pig is tied to the rear of the
vehicle by a rope or chain (for greater
security some twelve yards long. The
pig is kept in the vehicle until the hunts
men 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
SuUSdlS SOOu ucSCiSIdlG luII
His cries bring out one wolf, who gives
the pig chase !; then two wolves, then
three, then ten, then fifty wolves-all
posting as hard as they can 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 arouse all
the wolves in the forest within a circuit
of three miles, and the troika is followed
by an immense flock of wolves. The
horses have an instructive horror of
wolves, and 90 almost crazy they run as
fast as they can SO.
The huntsmen fire as fast as they can
load-there is no necessity to take any
aim. The pig squeals-tke horses neigh
the wolves howl-the guns rattle; 1t is
concert to make Mephistooheles 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 it they balk, if the
| troika is upset, there is no hope The
next day, or the day after, or a week after
wards, nothing will remain of the party
but the wreck of the troika, the barrels
OF the guns, and the larger bones OF ta.e
| horses, nuntS1nen ana QrlfCT-
Last winter Prince Repnine 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 es-
tates near the steppe, and they determined
TO 90 on a wolf hunt. They prepared a
large sleigh in which three persons could
move at ease, three vigorous horses were
put into it, and they selected for driver
a man born in the country and thoroughly
experienced in the sport. Every hunts
man had pair of double-barreiled guns
and hundred and fifty ball cartridges
1t was night when they reached the steppe
that Is, an immense prairie covered with
snow. The moon was full, and shone
brilliantly its beams refracted by the
snow, gave a 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
suueal A wolf or two appeared, but
they were timiG and kept long way off
Their numbers gradually increased, and
as their numbers augmented they became
bolder There were about twenty wolves
when they came within gun range of the
troika One of the party Sired; woif
fell. The flock became alarmed, and half
fed away Seven or eight hungry wolves
remained behind to devour their dead
companion. The gaps were soon filled
On every side howl answered howl, on
every side sharp noses and brilliant eyes
were seen pcering. The guns ratified vol
lev after voley, but the flock of wolves
increased iustead of diminis hing, and soon
it vas not flock, but vast herd OF
wolves in thick serried 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 mum
| bers continued to increase and increase ::
they seemed 30 be a silent tide drawing
nearer and nearer, and which the guns OF
the party, rapidly as they were discharged,
had no effect on. The wolves formed a
vast crescent, whose horns began to en-
compass the horses. Their 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
desert OF snow The party had taken
the pig into the sleigh; his squeals IN
creased the wolves boldness. The party
continued to fire, but they had now used
about half their ammunition, and had
two hundred cartridges lett, while they
we're surrounded oy three thousand wolves
The two horns of the crescent became
nearer and nearer, and threatened to en-
valona the DartV