The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-10-13


than l ever would have thought those
rugged, shaggy horses capable Of. We had
driven about three versts Qess than two
miles) when suddenly our trot horse sank
into the snow and, In his endeavors to get
out OF the trap, upset the sled. We con-
graduated ourselves than this accident oc-
CURED then instead Of later when we heard
tho howls Of the famished beasts around us,
as an attack on their part would have in
evitably proved fatal TO us. At the same
time became aware that was wrapped up
too much, for It required some time to get
out Of my covers and stand on my feet.
Finally we righted ourselves and our sled
and proceeded on our ride over the glitter.
ing plain OF snow.
After we had gone from two to three
versts more and reached the forest Ivan
suddenly stopped, while the servant we had
with us fastened to the rear of the sled q
rope about twenty-five feet long. At the
end OF this rope was attached q piece of pu-
trid meat wrapped in a bundle of hay. This
Is the bait which, in connection with the
squealing Of the pig, attracts the wolves
within shooting range We drove from this
time forward at q moderate pace, while the
servant pinched the pig to make it squeal.
After awhile a long-drawn howl on the left
apprised us that wolves were following on
onr track. My excitement increased and
suddenly both of us were aiming at dark
shadow that fitted across our way about
sixty PAGES In the rear of our sled An in
terval of deep silence; even the little pig
ceased its music probably grown used al
ready to the pinching attentions of its COM
panion. All of a sudden the latter uttered a
loud cry of pain and the pig resumed its
squealing-the servant alternately uttering
iol,1 Fo, ts,,x yJo
had no time to inquire just then into the
cause of this commotion, as the forest began
to get lively with wolves. But, as we learnt
afterwards very tragico.comical incident
had happened an incident that nobody
would believe who does not know the Rus
sian peasant thoroughly When the pig be-
came accustomed to the pinching its COM
panion required to an expedient Of his own.
He took the animals small curled tail be-
tween his teeth, and the pig, mad with pain,
had turned round and retaliated on his tor
mentors nose. saw the man the next
morning; he looked really pitiable, besides
he had to endure the mocking Of everybody.
But to revert to our voracious friends.
On both sides ran the bowling devils. The
underbrush rustled and suddenly gigantic
wolf emerged from the cover and sprang
upon the moonlit way. My heart palpitated
feverishly. No one made any movement
and noiselessly our sled went on. With his
nose on the snow the rascal followed us. l
can not imagine what restrained mo, but in.
stead OF firing at our pursuing foe, stared
at him as II spellbound, without even think
ing of my gun. But not so Friend Alexan-
der p. With cold blood, steelcd by numer-
Gus similar ventures, he was aiming at the
game. Suddenly the report of his gun
startled the echoes Of the forest and imme-
diately we saw the wolf turn around and
leave black spot on the white surface |
Only after the shot did hear the rustic of
fugitive animals on both sides, sign that |
many invisible foes were following us. After |
some time had elapsed we halted in the mid |
lie of a clearing The pig squealed pitifully,
md somehow felt the presence Of wolves |
without seeing them. Suddenly / saw q |
lark body emerge from the thicket, another |
followed, and, quick as lightning, two pow
,rful wolves darted into the white space. |
lined at the ono on the left, Friend p. at |
he other. Both shots rang out simultane-
,usly, and two objects rolled over on the |
now to cease moving after few minutes.
Then Ivan whipped up the admirably trained
lorses, and drove back the same way we
lad come. Hardly had we gone back hun
lred PAGES, when P.'s gun cracked again, q
hird wolf paying for his bloodthirstiness
With his life. The next moment / became
ware Of a pair of red glaring eyes in fir
hicket. fred but must have missed, for
rustic announced the flight of the game.
Now, in gradually shortening intervals, |
We see the dark bodies Of our foes fly over |
he high road, but unfortunately out OF |
ange. Suddenly the horses prick up their |
,ars and even the stoically calm Ivan utters |
IN exclamation between an oath and be- |
powerful wolf had crossed
he road close in front of the horses: l was
IN the point of turning round when l per-
,eived lank and hungry-looking beast
smerge from the ditch, and with terrific
bound precipitate himself on the bait at
the end of the rope. My gun cracked
with that Of p, and the
mighty fellow rolled in his blood. Which Of
US had killed him I know not, but my
amiable friend gave the credit CT the shot
to me. We drove back to our booty and
loaded it on our sled (the only instance in
which we did SOY, as had expressed a wish
to have a cover made out of the fur, and we
found him an especially handsome speci-
men. On our way back we killed four moro
wolves, so that we felt amply satisfied with
our nights work when we reached home at
about three o'clock in the morning.
In some regions where wolves are moro
numerous and make their appearance in
packs, scythes are fastened to the sled to
protect it against the wolves should they
attack 1t in large numbers. In such locali-
ties, too, hunting party is always composed
of from six to ten shooters in one large sled
or two smaller ones. Notwithstanding the
precautions it sometimes happens that the
horses steaming with sweat rush into the
courtyard with the wreck of the sled, on
which only few blood-soaked rags give
sad evidence of the fate of the merry hunt
ing party that started out so gayly a few
hours before. In such a case the wolves,
strong in numbers, frantic with hunger, re-
gardless of the danger, attack the sled and
devour the hunters Although had many
opportunities to join these large parties al
ways refrained, as a man at your back with
gun and in high state of excitement is
even more dangerous than half dozen
frantic wolves had one experience of this
kind in which fellow hunter fired so close
to my head that ! consider it a favor Of
Providence that / am able to write these
lines. Ever since have gone hunting only
with men whom / know to be deliberate
marksmen, preferring only one companion
to greater number.
It is quaint and surprising fact that in
Russia the hunter must buy his bear before
he can kill him. had expressed q desire to
go bear hunting and one night, after attend
ing fashionable performance at the Moscow
Theater, was at the "Eremitage," restau-
rant, think without an equal In the world
awaiting the return Of my friend p, who
had driven lady to her home. ! was chat
ting with some acquaintances when p. en-
tered and asked me with q smile; "Apro-
...tlt -. - L.