San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-05-04

rine carriage. In vain / assailed Kos
tieletkine with questions touching these
strange preparations; the Count Vonch,
saied me no answer merely laughed
sardonically, just as he had done on the
boulevard ut Paris.
We returned 10 the castle and con
tinued our preparations. Orders were
issued for every man 10 carry two car
bines aud 100 cartridges. All concern
ing the inner man was left to the care
Of the nougiks, who followed ms in four
sleighs. Once 1T tho block'house all
was unpackel. Our party consisted OF
ten hunters, viz; 20 carbides and 1000
cartridges.
The mot iks uppacked bear skins,
tea POTS, chatting dishes, tea, sugar, cold
meats, provisions OF all sorts, coSnac,
even champagne all being placed in n
receptacle with q trap door, made in
the center Of the floor saw them
take out OF the sleigh cartridges for
loading the little cannon, and lastly
three living mu22led sheep. These
sheep.bait were fastened securely to
stakes. at equal distances, three or four
wards from the base of the block house.
These details concluded, all the mon.
Riks, except two who remained TO wait
on us, got into their sleighs and gal
loped off TO the castle. In the midst Of
the plain we twelve men remained,
awaiting the enemy.
We drew lots for the chairs every
man took possession Of his own, with
one carbine in hand, the other by his
side, with the packages of cartridges.
At given signal one Of the mougiks
ran down the ladder, unmuzzled the
three sheep, sprang nimbly up the lad
der and drew it in after him. The
sheep in front of me began to bleat,
and the others ditto.
attention |" said Kostieletkine in
loud voice; "aim leisurely; do not hur-
ny; we have 4S hours before us. Let
overy shot lay beast low!"
l looked at him surprised as far as
the eye could reach nothing appeared
but the snowy plain. This calm was of
brief duration. Cold made the sheep
bleat pitably. Soon at the angle of the
fir-tree forest black spot Appeared
twas a wolf He seemed at first ready
to run straight to the block house; then
his tactics, and described
great circle of which We were the cen
tire. The beast was certainly in range;
but the caution of Kostieletkine was
in my ears. !
Suddenly other dark spots appeared
On the snowy carpet. We counted one,
,wo, three, ten, twenty wolves. AS the
first one, these all traced eccentric cir
lies, after the manner peculiar to the
animal, viz: A kind Of jumping trot,
lead and tail low, ears bent forward,
Eyes glazing. Other wolves appeared,
md still others. The first Corners were
fearing the block-house. In the line
If my carbine was big devil OF a wolf
}older than the others; he had ceased
making circles and was coming straight
oward the block-house; yet not with
,ut caution, not in straight line, but
making zigzags toward the coveted
heep.
J burst not be first to shoot, lest the
noble Bayards might say; See those
lot headed French; they can't wait a
ec0nd [ hesitated. Kostieletkine
ried out: Gentlemen, don't allow the
,ait to be carried off"
These words were the death sentence
# the big wolf; 1 pressed the trigger
nd he fell. Was he dead? thought
lot he seemed to make an effort to
Use; time was wanting-the wolves
learest fell upon him and commenced,
With avidity to devour him. We could
.ear them masticating while the rest
Iowled, "Aim at the feasters, COM
handed the Count, ''let lis prolnng the
l and my comrades, right
nd left, shot dozen times; not shot
Kissed. More than 30 wolves lay in
ront of my bait, and over these $500
amished mouths stood fighting for
heir flesh, In front Of the other two
ats the same scene.
Each one had done his duty. The
rst wolf approaching the sheep having
cen laid low, his fellows fell upon him
nd began fighting. The hunters fired
pom the whole and three piles of dead
olives strewed the plain, while another
warming multitude, divided into three
acks, mouthed up to their ears in
lood! This hideous spectacle was but
lie prelude to slaughter still more
ightful.
Kostielotkine, who up to this time,
ad been playing the part of an anna.
,ur, picked out among the wolves a
Ictim remarkable for his size and the
DIOR of his fur, made sign to one of
10 two mougiks. The little copper
tnnon was then pointed by turns at
very wolf heap. The bowling of the
feasters made deafening
lmult. Filled with case shot to its
Ely mouth, the little piece of artillery .
elched forth two discharges into every
cap. Then we beheld piles of disem- A..
Dweled wolves devoured greedily by