The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-01-01
A Russian Wolf-hunt.


ton in Russia received very pressing III
vita5ion from Count Potowski to vIsit Nun at
his castle in the country about twenty leagues
from st. Petersburg, where ne PROMISED me
some rare sport in hunting wolves.
"I think he said. "you will find our mode
of destroying these beasts sufficiently novel
and exciting to repay you for your tssAble."
"Don't speak of trouble, count, b cUnnec-
ton with q visit to your castle! am certain
that [ shall find myself indebted to your lord
ship Ior some of the happiest hours in my
HEP
Il was towards the close of long, dreary
winter that found my elfin very sumptuous
quarters OF the castle referred to, which stood
upon high eminence commanding aneXten-
sive view of alevel open plain, which was the
beginning of a wilderness that stretched away
unbroken for many and many league. 1t was
on this open plain, now covered with heavy
incrustation of snow, that the count proposed
we should have our wolfhunt, which to me
did prove novel and exciting, and even peril
Gus beyond anything had ever known.
Armed with doube-barrelled guns and some
five hundred ball cartridges apiece, the count,
a Eisnd ofhis, and myself, set off one afternoon
in a trolka for the place where we were to be-
gin our exciting sport-which, promising it
may be as new to others as to me, l will en-
deavor to describe somewhat in detail.
In the first place, troika is a sledye, in ollr
case large enous ii to give ample room to three
persons besides the driver, and is drawn by
these hor-es, trained for the purpose, and har
messed to it all abreast. The one IL the cen
tire, the principal beast to be relied on, moves
with his head down, and always in a trot, and
is called the ''Snow-Eater;" while the two 9TH
er5 gallop along beside him, with their heads
loose, and are termed the "Fmies." To man
age all these properly, and keep the troika from
upsetting, as it SKINS and dances over the frOZ-
en- snow, up hill and down dale, require a dIiv-
e. OF great skill and experience. Ordinarily
so much; but when surrounded by large pack
OF hungry wolves, it is certain death!
In such sledge and such ma lner, we set
off, one clear, cold afternoon, for the scene of
our ex oloiIs, carrying with US half-grown
hog, which was to serve us for bait. We reach
ed our first destination just as the sun was
sinking in his snowy bed, and the full round
moon was rising to silver over the scene
Then the hog was taken out and attached to
the troka by an iron chain, from tour to six
feet long, and the horses started forward at
brisk pace over the level, glistening plain
TIE hog began to squeal, and the count turned
to me with laugh.
allow do you like the sport, Mr.. Kingston ?"
he said.
"I think shall like it better when see
something to shoot, and this screening brute
gets his sharp tones little modifedP l re-
piled, haf stopping my ears.
"You will have other noises to take off your.
attention presently" said the count on
CD you think we shall be f)rtunate enough
to draw out any wolves in this way~ l ask
ed. - I
"Give me half an hour" rejoined the count,
'and if don't show you more wolves than
you woald care to face afoot, then consider me
your debtor for whatever you please"
.., After going some distance, our hog, greatly
tony relief changed his tune from his shril,
ear piercing squeal, into something resembling
whine. The sun went down, and the moon
rose in full splendor, pouring over the white,
polished snow brilliant light that, by rerac-
ton, was rendered almost dazzling.
"Haw cried the count, as long, low, pecu-
liar howl came sweeping over the plain, ibid
not tell you SOP" There is our first answer to
our complaining friend behind. And there
again! do you hear-there is another and an
other-we soon shall have work before u.s.
See" he almost Immediately added, pointing
to the lett, "there they Gomez @
Hooked in the direction indicated, and saw,
In the DIM distance, what appeared to be two
or three small moving shadows; looked to
the right, and behed more of the same kind !;
and on AL sides we now heard those long, dis
NAL howls by which one wolf calls to another,
and knew they were gathering in force, and
would soon be around US.
Oar chained hog continued his plantive
cries, and the wolves fell in behind, and press
ing forward, until they came up within fifty.
yards, where, for a time, their timidity seemed
to hold them. As their numbers increased,
which they did every minute-the beasts at
time; appearing to spring from the earth in
mysterious way-their boldness increased al
so; and they gradually drew nearer and near
er, swapping, snarling, and growing, and so
frightened our horses that the driver had much
difficulty in holding them down to reason
able pace
"Now, then, gentlemen said the count, 1et
us begin our sport, and Heaven send us safe
delivcrance from its PERISH
10 With this he fired two shots at the row of
fiery eyes behind us, A Sharp vein followed