Griggs courier., 1888-10-19

ing Petersburg during the butter week.
Before the wretched vehicle stood two mis-
cradle, rugged, sorry jades, one in the
curved shafts, the other on the side as
gallop horse, Ivan, the huntsman himself
holding the reins, clad as Russian cattle
cattle dealer. The entire outfit had the as
pect of cattle-dealers conveyance. The
seats were halt Ql the side and half on the
back, and we arranged ourselves as warm
and snug as possible; but as I discovered
late one never should wrap his legs too
closely as he may find sudden and unex-
pected use for them. After we had taken
our seats youngster came struggling with
sack containing wriggling pig, the
medium designed to call the rascally
wolves to our heels. AS l missed the bells
was informed that the wolf, on account of
his innate cowardice, is scared away by too
much noise and would not dare to come
within the reach of firearms. When we
left the court-yar we struck quicker pace
than / 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
the 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
ont 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 a
rope about twenty five feet long. At the
end OF this rope was attached piece of pu-
trid meat wrapped in q 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 a moderate pace, while the
servant pinched the pig to make it squeal
After awhile 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 a 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 sudden the latter uttered a
loud cry of pain and the pig resumed its
squealing-the servant alternately uttering
pitiable groans and vociferating madly. We
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, q 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 it's COM
paniOn recurred 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. l saw the man the next
morning; he looked really pitiable, besides
he had to endure the mocking of every body.
But to revert to our voracious friends.
On both sides ran the howling 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. I
can not imagine what restrained me, but in
stead of firing at our pursuing foe, stared
at him as if spellbound, without even think
ing of my gun, But not SO Friend 4Alexan-
der p. With cold blood, steeled by nunler-
Gus similar ventures, he was aiming at the
game. Suddenly the report of his gun
startled the echoes of the forest and mnle-
diatelV we saw the wolf turn around and
leave a black spot on the white surface
Only after the shot did l hear the rustic of
fugitive animals on both sides, a sign that
many Invisible foes were following u.s. After
some time had elapsed we halted in the mid
! die of a clearing The pig squealed pitfully,
and somehow felt the presence of wolves
| without seeing them. Suddenly | saw a
dark body emerge from the thicket another
followed, and, quick as lightning, two pow
erful wolves darted into the white space l
aimed at the one on the left, Friend p. at
the other. Both shots rang out simultane-
ously, and two objects rolled over on the
snow to cease moving after a few minutes.
Then Ivan whipped up the admirably trained
horses and drove back the same way we
had come. Hardly had we gone back a hun
dred PAGES, when P.'s gun cracked again. a
| third wolf paying for his bloodthirstiness
with his life. The next moment l became
aware of a pair of red glaring eyes in a tir
thichet. l fired, 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
| the high road, but unfortunately out of
range. Suddenly the horses prick up their
ears and even the stoically calm Ivan utters
| an exclamation between an oath and be-
wilderment-a powerful wolf had crossed
the road close in front of the horses: l was
on the point of turning round when per
ceived a lank and hungry-ooking beast
emerge from the ditch, and with terrific
bound precipitate himself on the bait at
the end of the rope. Ny gun cracked
| simultaneously with that of P. and the
mighty fellow rolled in his blood, Which of
US had killed him l know not, but my
amiable friend gave the credit cf the shot
to me. We drove back to our booty and
loaded it on our sled (the only instance in
which we did so), as had expressed wish
to have cover made out of the fur, and we
found him an especially handsome speci-
men. On our way back we killed four more
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 more
numerous and make their appearance in
packs, scythes are fastened to the sled to
protect IT against the wolves should they
attack it in large numbers. In such locali-
ties, too, a hunting party is always composed
| Of from six to ten shooters in one large sled