Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-07-28

the story teller of the village happened to
be of the party, an old legend or two,
handed down from generation to genera
ton since Russia first became
people; how lila Murometz fought
with the Nightingale Brigand, and how
Alexey Popovitch slew the Flying Tartar.
But these men were silent and thoughtful,
no jokes, no stories, no laughter every
face clouded with anxiety, every eye fixed
moodily on the ground.
And what is it, then, which made them
so gloomy? Let us listen to their talk,
and perhaps we may find out.
1t is q sore judgement on us!" said
one who seemed to be the host-a big,
burly man, with a tangled yellow beard.
THE like has not been since the year CT i,
when the wolves came right into the viii
lage, and killed nine of our dogs in one
night. But then there were many wolves,
while now 1t is only one that does all the
mischief; and yet, we, as many as We are,
can do nothing against him"
And how the mischief can we do any
thing" cried a second, against brute
that scurries about as if he had wings {?
Pounce he comes into the village, gobbles
up the first thing that comes to hand, and
off again! and you may try to recollect
MO hoAhG4 \ 10 blG RODuldl DuAdSC lOk
utter dissppearance)
"Well, we must do something to stop it,"
said the third, grim old fellow, who had
had his nose taken off by frost bite.
Mother Avdotia's only COW killed last
week, poor Ivan Masloff torn to bits on
Friday, Feodore Nikeetin's dog snapped
up last night, and our watchman's shoulder
bitten through-brothers we are wrong
before God il we let this go onl'
"Ah, it is all very well to say we must
do something-but who's to do it?" re-
turned the second speaker emphatically
" When we turn out, three or four to-
gether, the cunning rascal marks it, and
keeps Off and there's not man in the
village, | take it, that would venture upon
him single handed. Who'll try it, think
yer"
"Iwili!"
1t was very low, quiet voice that
spoke the last words; but there was a
tirmness in it which no one could mis-.
take. The speakers started, aud looked
up. The sixth of the party, seated in the
farther corner near the door, had hitherto
been so quiet that they had almost forgot
ten his presence; but now every eye was
turned upon him. He was young, but
little over twenty, though his heavy mus.
tache, and square, thicksct, muscular frame
made him appear considerably older. His
face was coarse and commonplace enough
tho sallow, low-browed, weathor-b beaten
of the genuine Russian
peasant; but there was nameless some.
thing about the broad square jaw and small,
deep set grey eye, that would have made
you pick cut that man among all the six
tor any work requiring courage and per-
severance. And, in truth, vladimir Kov.
rolf, young as he was, had already per-
formed more than one feat which the viii
lage gossips still remembered with admir-
alton in their winter evening chat around
the tea urn.
"Ah, Vladimir Mikhailovitch walter
the son OF Michael) cried the host, whats
this you're thinking of? You that have
only been married two months, to go
making wolf s meat of yourself Nom
sense, lad stay at home, and take care of
your wife, and leave wolf hunting to them
that's got nothing better to dor
KovrOff answered never a word bui
his features hardened like mask of iron,
as he slowly rose TO his feet. All present
knew we'll that when his face wore the
look that was upon it now they might as
we'll try to move mountain as TO persuade
him; and they sat silent, waiting to hear
" hat he would say.
"You say that Nikeetin the butcher lost
a dog last night; did the wolf eat the
whole carcass? Z" asked Vladimir of the
nOseless man, in the quick commanding
tone of one who knows that he must be
obeyed.
mo; he hardly got bite of it, the ras-
one comfort" answered the
old fellow with grim chuckle. "Feodore
heard the dog yelp, and out
rushed he and his men with lights and
hatchcts, and scared the brute away.
AS for the dog, it's lying there in his yard
now"
go, one of you, and bring it; and if
any one has sharp wood knife, let him
give it me.
1t was curious to see how absolutely this
man, the youngest and least important of
the whole party, issued his orders; and
how unhesitatinely the rest obeyed them.
Here, as everywhere, the stronger mind
took the lead, and the weaker instinctively
followed.
The host produced huge, broad .bladed
knife, which Kovrolf slung round his
neck without word; and, few minutes
later, the carcass of Nikeetin's dog was
lJALR DCSlOC nOOi.
his glass, and said" You tell me this
brute generally comes about midnight; SO
between eleven and twelve l shall take
this carcass to the cross roads, and throw
it there as a bait for him, hiding myself
behind the fence hard by. When he
comes up, shall attack him; and then
let 1t be as God wills. But you, brothers,
mind and don't say a word of this to any
one, lest my Masha Mary should hear of
it, If get off there's no need for her to
know about the matter at al and, if I'm
killed, she'll hear of it soon enough-God
help her! And now, Alexey Nikolaie-
witch, if you can spare me your bed
while, I'll take nap, to freshen me for
ny work"
And u few moments later, this name
less hero (himsClf all unconscious of doing
anything heroic) was sleeping as calmly as
if deadly conflict, from which he had
little or no chance of escaping, were not
awaiting him four hours later on.
Midnight-cold, dreary, ghostly. A
lead, grim silence over the lifeless village
and lonely high road. A faint glimmer Of
moonlight, giving a weird spectral look to
the halt-seen outlines OF the dark, silent
log huts, and making the gloomy depths
)f the encircling forest seem all the blacker
shapeless mass lying out upon the hard
lnow Of the crossroads, and dark figure
,rouched behind fence hard by with
in its hand which glitteIs as
he moon falls upon it.
Weary, weary work, crouching there in
he cold and darkness, with the stffening
ingers clutching the heavy hatchet, aud
he strained ears watchful to catch the
slightest sound. Harkl was not that a
ow howl from the far distance? No, it
Was but the wind moaning through the
skeleton branches of the forest. Patience
get Hark, again and this time there is
40 mistaking the sound not the long mel
Incholy howl wherewith supperless wolf
nay be heard bemoaning himself, on the
outskirts of Moscow, almost any night in
he week, but quick, snarling cry, as of
'ne who sees his food near at hand, and
wishes to hasten its arrival. And there,
gliding ghost-like over the great waste of
now, comes long, gaunt shadow, straight,