The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-04-21
Snttrtsting Aarratire.
WoLF-HUNTIEG IN RUSSIA.

Wine connected Win the EhSilsh H-ih-
bassy, a few years ago, l received very
pressing Invitation from Count Potowski
to visit him at bis castle IN the country,
about twenty leagues from 81 Petersburg,
where he promised me some rare sport In
hunting wolves. The castle stood upon a
high eminence, commanding an extensive
view Of level, open plain, whlch was the
beginning Of wilderness that stretched
away unbrokenly for many and many
league l. was on tins open PLAIN, now
covered with heavy incrustatlon O. snow
that the Count PROMISED we should have
our wolFhunt
Armed with douoied-oarreiled guns aud
some hive hundred bali cartridges apiece,
the Count, friend OF his, and myself, Sc.
OF one afternoon, IN troika tor sort OF
sledge,) for the place where we were to
begin our exciting sport
The trolka Is large enough to glye am
pie room for three persons besides the
driver, and is drawn BY three horses, from
which fact it takes Its name. These hor-
ses, trained for the purpose, are harnessed
to it all abreast The one in the eepfEe,
the principal beast TO be relied on, moves
with his head down, and always IN a trot,
and Is called the "Snow-Eateri whiie the
two others gallop along beside HIM, with
their heads loose, are termed the "furles.
To manage all these properly, and keep
the troika from upsetting, as Il skins and
dances over the frozen, giistenIng snow, up
hill and down dale, requires driver Of
great skill and experience. ordinarily
the upsetting Of this sledge may not mat
ter so much; but wi, surrounded by
large pack Of hungry ,7olves, 1t IS certain
de4th!
In such sledge and such manner, We
set of, one clear, cold afternoon, for the
scene OF our exploits, carrying with US
halfgrown hog, which was to serve US for
bait. We reached our hrst destination
Just as the sun was sinking IN his snowy
bed, and the full, round moon was rising
tosilver over the scene. Then the hog was
taken out and attached to the troika by an
iron chain, from four to SIX feet long, and
the horses started forward at brisk pace
over the level glistening plain. The hog
began to squeal, and the Count turned to
me with laugh.
How do you Ike the sport he SAID.
Il think l shall like 1t better when L
see something to saoot, and this screech-
ing brute gets his sharp tones little mcdi-
fed" | replied, half-stopping my ears.
"You viii have other noises to take of
your attention presently, said the Count.
DO you think we shall be fortunate
enough to draw out any wolves this way!
asked.
Give me half an hour, reioined the
Count, '.and If | don't show you more
wolves than you would care to face a-foot,
then consider me yourdebtor for what you
please.
After going some distance, Sar hog,
greatly 70 my relief, changed his tune lion
his shrill, ear-p!ercing squeal, into some
thing resembling mournful whine The
sun went down, and the moon rose in
full spiendor, pouring over the white, pol
lshed snow brilliant light, that, by re-
fraction, was rendered almost dazzling.
.Hark Y cried the Count, as a long,
low, peculiar howl came sweeping over the
plain; "did not tell you sof There IS
our frst answer to our complaining friend
behind. And there again do you hear ?
there Is another, and another we
shall soon have work before US. See?'
he almost immediately added, pointing
away to the len, there they come
l looked 10 the direction indicated. and
saw, dimly in the distance, what appeared
20 De two or three small, moving shadows;
looked to the right, and beheld more of
the same kind; and GU all sides we now
heard those long, dismal bowls by which
one wolf calls to another, and knew they
were gathering IN force, and would soon
DC around us
Our chained hog continued his plain
tlse cries, and the wolves tell in behind,
and pressed forward, all they came up
within nifty yards, where, for time, their
eimidity seemed to hold them. As their
numbers increased, which they did every
mlnute-the beasts at times appearing to
spring from the earth IN mysterious way
their boidness increased also; and they
gradually grew nearer and nearer, snap
ping, snariing, and growing, and so fright
snlng our horses that the driver had much
aimeeity an holding them down TO rea-
sonasle paee.
now snen, gentlemen, SAID the Count,
'e' us Degin our sport ana heaven send