National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-16
the Emperor,s appearance with Joyous bark


The Emperor chose the Baron Won Holstein
and me as his companions. The other gentle
men set out immediately, walking at very
rapid rate, to meet US again by a circuitous
route at certain spot, and TO drive towards
Us such bears As might be started by Old
Nieclai, the veteran bear hunter, who accom-
panied them Old Nicolai said few words in
Russian to the Emperor, who told me that the
veteran hunter had assured him that VIC could
find one or more Of the bruin family before
long, as It had been very cold for the past ten
days, and the bears would be about looking for
food.
Our party, accompanied by four piguers,
who held the the dogs by strings, started at q
very slow pace through the thicket. The En-
peror was very taciturn, and kept his eyes
fixed on the ground. Every now and then he
stood still and examined the frozen ground.
On such occasions one Of the piQEeurs would
step sp to him and do likewise.
The man was evidently an experienced hun
ter; for the Emperor locked at him, and, when
he shook his head, moved on again. Thus we
walked for perhaps an hour and half. It was
growing colder and colder. The Emperor
beckoned to one of the attendants, who pro-
dueed q large wicker flask which he handed to
His Majesty. The latter drank q deep draught
from 1t and then handed &c TO me. Things must
have changed greatly In Russia, thought to
myself; for who would have dared to drink
from the same flask with the terrible and
magnificent Emperor Methodist As It was 1
eagerly accepted the profered flask, and drank
some excellent cognac. The fiery liquor had
never tasted better to me. M. Won Holstein
drank nexi, and then We went forward again.
Another half hour passed by, when all of q
sudden we heard, at great distance, long
bugle-fourish. .-.
6They have found besrp exclaimed the
Emperor, his eyes Frightening with the eager
anticipation of true sportsman. Listen"
The distant bugle sounded four sharp notes,
in quick succession.
The Emperor understood the signal.
"This way, gentlemen he cried, and started
of to the left almost at q run.
We followed at the same gait, and the dogs,
whom the piottea.Ts had let loose, ran, barking
aloud, alongside Of us.
As we advanced, the bugle Of the other party
indicated every few minutes the direction We
had to follow. We were evidently approach
ing each other very rapidly.
All at once two rife-shots were fired at q
distance of 500 yards.
The Emperor motioned us to stand still.
One of the piqueurs sounded his bugle. The
signal was at once answered. The dogs sud-
denly started Of at a furious rate, with how ,
and threatening ferceness OF which would have
caused a weak-nerved person to shudder.
Five minutes we stood motionless. Then we
heard the dogs barking with intense exaspera-
| tion-they were answered by deep roar-the
Emperor bent his face in the creates: suspense
forward-and all at once superb black bear
emerged from the thicket.
The dogs jumped at him from all sides, but
he shook them off with the utmost ease. Then
the bear caught sight of US. He stood still and
uttered another low roar. The Emperor raised
his rife and fired. The bullet hit the animal,
but evidently inflicted only q slight wound
| The wounded bear turned to run, but the dogs
impeded his progress. We fired, too, but like
wise with Indifferent success. The other party
| now came In sight. Two more bullets were
| fired into the animal but the bear has tough
| life and his vital parts were as yet uninjuTed.
| Then the Emperor gave US the signal to rush at
the bear. He himself led the way with up
lifted hunting knife. The bear, whether en-
feebled by the loss of blood or terrified by the
appearance of so many adversaries, tried to flee
more rapidly, but he was oyerlaken and brought
| to bay. He hurled off the dogs once more, but
then the Emperor's knife was driven into his
heart. He uttered q low moan, staggered back
and sank dead to the ground.
The Emperor struck of one of tie animals
forepaws. The piqusurs cut of the bears
head, and then skinned him. One Of the hams
was taken along by the men. We took another
deep drsught from the wicker-fask; the EN-
peror expressed his satisfaction to old Nicola
| for the dispatch with which he had started up
the game, and we returned to the opening in
the forest, where we had lsft our kibitkas.
1t was two in the afternoon when we reached
that point. The drivers and footmen had
lighted large fire there, and we were all of u:
glad to get near it To thaw our half-frozeI
limbs.
The Emperor, who is naturally sombre
taciturn man, was in unusually good spirits
He asked me how / had liked the sport. II
was easier than iion-hunting, 1 told him
"Sometimes the bear, after he has received q
painful wound, becomes as savage as a tiger, ,
said the Emperor, "and then the hunter whc
is near him has to act with the utmost circum
tpection. Many years ago was attacked by
such an animal, and I had an almost miracu
lous escape"
Alive were back in st. Petersburg.