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


Out OF the ten hunters in the block
house, two sentinels were selected. 10
be relieved every two hours, to watch
the wolves.
The mougiks prepared tea; the table
groaned under cold meats and many
varieties of provisions. We made an
excellent repast, doing ample justice to
the lno wine. Even as our supper
progressed, so did the feast OF the
wolves.
Fifteen yards from the block house
circle fell Hpon the pure snow. a
multitude of red eyes, grouped two by
two, formed on this black circle a kind
Of Luminous crown Aroused by our
fire and conviyiality, the Wolves darted
anxious glances toward us.
Night passed, sentinels mounted
guard regularly, while the others, wrap
ped in bear.skins, slept TRANQUILITY
Nothing extraordinary occurred; the
red lights disappeared one by one in
the darkness; only an almost impercep-
table black circle was discernable
around the block house. Day dawned.
Kostieletkine woke us; Gentlemen,
tho greater part OF the business is fin
ished; to-day we must make way with
the animals"
Not wolf darkened the snow-carpet.
Only the carcasses of the slaughtered
animals formed the black circle visible
through the night. Birds of prey had
fallen upon the skeletons and were pol
ishing them vigorously. ....
"Little father, (batouscha,)" said one
of the mougiks, addressing the Count,
SHALL l fasten the bait?" ....
"Yes, nowl"
And the mougik, as the day before,
fastened the three sheep in the same
places. and they were not slow to begin
bleating in their pitiable manner. A
quarter Of an hour elapsed
One wolf appeared. then two, three,
etc. Same caution as the day before
repeated But, as Kostieletkine made
us remark, the wolves were much less
Slaughter began; heaps
were again formed, and the living joy
fully devoured the slain. Three times
that day the slaughter and feasting
were repeated.
The Count, the director of the hunt,
gave us the alternative, toward evening,
Of leaving the encampment and return
ing on foot to the castle, or waiting for
the mougiks, who would come for us, in
'leighs, on the morrow.
AS we had abundance of provisions,
lea, cognac, powder, balls, we elected
10 spend another night in the block
house.
The next morning two of the bats
we're fastened to the stakes, the third
lad died of cold. The bleatings of the
;wo sheep attracted only 10 wolves
,hese were the sole representative Of
he cohort Of the first day. After Il
aunt OF two days, these few were ali |
hat remained of 1000.
"You sec those beasts?" said Kostiel-
etkine to me, "each one has devoured |
200 of his fellows. These are the only
survivors Of the pack. You know now
[ have made wolf eat wolf" Taking
leadly aim at one Of the 10 survivors,
md seeing his neighbors fall upon him,
he Count continued. "See, already
le is being devoured. This ones share
must be 400"
A few more shots will rid us of the
tragglers of the ferocious pack-a5 the
anne moment jingling sleigh bells in
ormed us of the return of the mou-
,iks.
tgI was very uneasy touching the man
Ter my host might display when I
would make my adieux, being mindful
# the Russian proverb, Receive man
ccording to his costume; dismiss him
ccording to the wit he has evinced."
In taking leave of me my host dis
,iayed the exquisite politeness peculiar
O all Russians of distinction. Yet a
hade of sadness rested Oh his farewell.
"We have had a good hunt" said he;
a very good hunt, too good hunt;
We are rid of wolves for four or five
ears"
1 have just received letter from
Jount Kostieletkine; it is laconic:
Ny Dear Frenchman-if the san
uinary hunt of 1880 have left some
leasant recollections, haste again to rhe
LIGHTHOUSE. We have great many
lore wolves than last year"
CHARLES KURNER.
A Business Transaction.