The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-03-01
WOLF HUNTING IN RUSSIA.

correspondent of the London lNornin0
Post gives lively account of wolf hunting.
which is one of the favorite sports in those
parts of Russia, where the animals have not
disappeared before advancing civilization.
At some abnormal hour, between night and
morning, you are aroused by vigorous
shake and hoarse admonition to tumble
up and look sharp about it, for there's no
time to lose" You make hasty toilet.
and sallying forth see in front of your hut.
in the dim light of the coming dawn huge.
dark, shapeless mass, which, as your eyes
get used to the darkness, assumes the form
OF broad, heavy, three-horse sledge with
very high sides, not unlike an enormous
washing tub, around which fit three or
four spectral figures with lanterns-the fit
full glare making their grim bearded faces
look grimmer and less human than ever.
Guns, ammunition, haversacks, ETC. slowed
away in the bottom of the conveyance: and
last, but not least, young pig, protesting
against his abduction with loudness and
fiuency that would do honor to a Hyde-
Park meeting. All being now ready, the
hunters squeeze themselves into their
places, the driver shakes his reins with a
wild whoop, and away we 60 into the dark
ness. Mile after mile as frozen waste goes
by like dream, till at length the spec
trail shadows of the forest begin to gather
round us, and the squcals of our unlucky
pig, Whose ears one of our party is now
punching vigorously begin to be answered
by another sound, which no one who has
once heard it will easily forget-not the
long melancholy howl wherewith a supper
less wolf may he heard bemoaning him
self on the outskirts of our village any
night in the week, but the quick, suarling
cry of one who sees his food coming and
wishes to hasten it. And there they come
at last, the gaunt, wiry, slouching fellows,
with their bushy tails and fiat narrow
heads, and yellow, thievish, murderous
eyes. Crack. the foremost of the pack rolls
over on his side, kicking conclusively; but
the rest gallop on unheeding. Crack!
crack! and two more fall dead, blotting the
snow with smear of dull crimson. Some
of the bol1est pursuers swarm up to the
sledge, and attempt to leap over its project
ing sides, while we pound their heads with
the butt ends of our pieces, and chop their
paws with hatchets, and slash them across
the eyes with hunting knives, the two hind
most of our party, meanwhile blazing away
over our shoulders as fast as they can load.
And so, for time, the running fight goes
fiercely on, making altogether very strik-
ing tableau. But the pace is too stiff to
last" as our leader remarks with know
ing grin. run at full speed through deep
snow tries even full grown wolf too
severely to be continued beyond certain
time; and in face of stout resistance the
beasts inherent cowardice is sure to come
to tho surface sooner or later. Already
three or four gaunt, shaggy veterans, who
have probably had good supper over
night, begin to hang back as if doubling
the wisdom Of risking their lives for hy-
pothetical breakfast. The speed of the
rest slackens by degrees: and at length the
whole pack drop off as il by tacit agree
ment, leaving US to pursue our way unmo-
Tested. Aswe emerge again upon the open
plain, across which the first beams of the
rising sun are just beginning to fall, we
see the last of our grim followers sinking
like belated spectre into the gloomy shad-
ows of tho forest which we have quilted.