The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-04-21

and black, rolling cloud Of wolves TO the
right LEFT, and rear Of Us, in the form Of
a Descent, their keen eyes looking like so
ANY little balls of fire. We were all
standing up, loading and firing, the Count
directly to tho rear, and his friend and
myself to the right aud leil.
As / have said, began to feel some
what alarmed-for | saw that, should any
accident happen, such as the fall Of one Of
the horses, or the upsetting Of the trOika,
We could scarcely hope to get off with life;
but | did not like to mention my fears to
persons who had so much experience as
my companions.
At last, seeing that matters were steadi-
" becoming worse instead of better, and
that, great as were the numbers Of our
foes, they were still increasing, ventured
to say:
eCount these rayenous beasts are press
ing up very close |"
~Indeed they -ss'' he replied, taking
a quiek, keen survey of the whole scene.
"They are getting pretty well forward,
tool" he pursued, with an anxious glance
toward the horses. Il confess | don I
like that. What do you say, Paul p he
added, addressing the driver.
"My lord, find it very difficult to man
age the horses"
ADO you think We are in any serious
danger, now, Paul?"
a don't like to see the beasts creeping
so far forward, my lord"
"Nor l, and l think We had better
knock over few Of the foremost
We now, BY the Counts advice, direct
ed cur FIRE at the two horns Of the crescent;
but though we shot down the foremost
with great rapidity, aud continued to do
so till our guns became heated, | could not
perceive that it thinned them in the least,
or had any good effect. We broke their
regularity, and threw them into some con-
fusion, it is true, but this, so far from be-
ing an advantage to us, l faneied worked
against US, by causing them to become
holder, and press up around Us sill closer.
BY my faith !" at length exclaimed the
Count, in tone that betrayed some de-
gree Of alarm: I'VE must get out of this
soon, or the beasts will be upon US
never saw so many before in my life, aud
l have shot till l am tired. Let me see.
We must have fired some three hundred
times apiece, and allowing that only every
other shot has been effeetual, we must
have brought down, say, five hundred
wolves; and yet they are here, closing up
around US, more numerous than eyer-a
countless legion One trip, one stumble,
one tilt, and We are gone How now,
Paul, my brave lad-hOw are you going to
get US out Of this ?"
"By giving the horses their heads, aud
letting them take steady turn to the left,
so as TO change the position of the whole
body Of pursuers at once"
care you sure of the animals? 2"
81 think | can trust them.
sand the troika, Paul 2"
81 shall do my best, trusting to Heaven,
my lord think the risk far less than
riding as We are"
"Then save US at your will, Paul, and
look to me fora handsome reward when
you shall have put Us safe within the cas-.
tie gates !"
The next few minutes were exciting
beyond anything had ever experienced
in my life. The driver shook the reins,
gave peculiar chirp and whistle, and our
noble steeds, as anxious to escape as our.
selves, sped away like the wind. fairly
held my breath, feeling that a crisis had
come involving life and death. Away
away We few, the keen air cutting our
faces, light snow binding our eyes, and
the little troika bounding over the glisten
ing surface like gallant boat on the foam.
crested pillows, | watched the dark, rolling
cloud Of living animals, with lolling tongues
and eyes of fire, and saw, with feeling Of
JOY that cannot express, that they were
slowly but perceptibly falling behind; that
we were gaining on them-inch BY inch
it was true-but still gaining on them. Il
the noble horses could but hold at thi.
speed, and no accident should befall us
We were all breathless with intensity Of
feeliug-the single chirp or sharp whistle
of our driver being the only human sounds
that issued from our party.
Gradually the horses began to turn
slowly turn, in broad circle to the left
so as to flank that horn of the crescent
As We came gracefully round so as in Z
measure to face our snarling pursuers
surprise and fear for moment threw then
into confusion. Impulsively they parted
and suffered US to pass through their deus,
ranks and gain a homeward start, befor,
getting clear comprehension that WI
were actually escaping aud leaving then
behind. Then, with loud, angry yells
they laid down to the chase, but were nc
match for our feet coursers, that ever,
moment widened the space between then
and their foes. Oh, how | loved the no
BILE brutes that we're SO calamity saving us
Bravo at length burst in veil from
the excited Count; "bravo, my noble steeds
and bravo, gallant driver this night
work shall be remembered to you allF
His words of rejoicing we're Instant,
changed to a cry OF dismay, as one of III,
horses stumbled, pitched forward, cam,
down upon his knees, checking up hi
companions aud almost hurting US upor
their backs. The noble brute, as if he
knew that death to all of us was threaten
ed through him, made tremendous strug
gle to regain his footing and pace; and
with success, thank Heaven! or this tai,
had never been told.
In another half-hour the ravenous volyeI
we're far behind US, and an hour saw u,
safe within the castle gates, uttering prayer
Of thanksgiving.
The next day we rode out upon the
snowy plain, and found it strewn for mile,
with the bones Of the wolves we had slain
on that ever memorable night
At Russian hotel you are obliged t.
stipulate for bed linen, pillows, blankets
and towels, or else pay extra for them, a,
the landlord assumes that you carry these
articles with you. This has been the Gus