St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-11-26

/ CS0Aau8 tLhO OAu8y Wills OCuS2lu 1Ct
low-tinted, Casters embroideries, AMI
Uttered the tables and consoles will
books and bric-a-brac until the placs
resemblcd = palace. Although such ,
small creature, she had an indomitable
spirit, and was famous sportswoman
She shot, fished, drove and rode better
than any woman have ever known
She was passionatcly fond of the mos
dangerous Of sports, and even made Z
point of sharing our bear and vol
hunts. She was not one of those WON
en- who are apt to hamper men BY re
quirinR protection and attention in mo
ments Of danger, for she could be de
pended upon to see to her own safety
under any kind Of circumstance, and
possessed such pluck and courage that
she never gave us any trouble wha:so.
ever. Moreover, she was continually
planning some amusement or other
70 enliven the long winter evenings, and
even succeeded in organizing some pri-
vate theatricals for the special benefit
Of our soldiers aud their wives. So the
months passed and winter came on-a
bitter. cold winter. Sudden storms
and heavy falls of snow had whitened
the plains and barred the dark forests
Of the Carpathian range. The icy wind
blew like . hurricane and the wolves
came down in hungry bands to the
lonely steppcs. The whole landscape
was frozen and dazzling. The great
stars seemed to burn in the northern
sky and the rays Of the silvery moon
made the night almost as clear As day.
The intense cold. the sweeping wind.
the sense of profound solitude that en-
vironed us exercised salutary effect
upon officers and men, and we plunged
with enthusiasm into the winter
sports, which were our only relaxation
and amusement We spent most Of osr
days out of doors in violent exercise,
riding, slcighing or skating in the
teeth of an east wind. Swimming like
swallows down the frozen course of
the river. No doubt the country was
monotonous and bare, and yet, with its
vast white solitudes, its flocks of wild
fowl. its rcedy wastes. its countless
frozen streams. it was grand in its own
peculiar way. As soon Is the hush of
winter had settled down around rs our
little princess got into the habit Of
having four black stations harnessed
to her sleigh, and, wrapped in furs to
her eyes, she would drive her high
melted steeds over the silent plains,
at the huts Of the poorest
peasants and bringing light and COM
fort with her wherever she went
Little BY little she won her way into
the homes and hearts Of the half-sav-
age and suspicious people. She was
not easily discouraged or rcbuffed, and
he did much good among the poor and
llso among our soldiers.
In January the inhabitants began to
complain bitterly Of the depredations
by the wolves, and the prin-
,ess urged rs to organize . wolf hunt
N the next clear moonlight night The
Wild beasts were infatuated by hunger
md ready for anything. On the 18th
Il January we started in two sleighs
which were drawn by young and swift |
lOrses and driven by clever and slxillful
oachmen. The princess coachman /!
vas Russian, who emitted peculiar
ound, something between a whirr and |
whistle, that seemed TO have = mag
cal effect on the team, and every few |
he employed this incentive
vith so good q result that we soon left |
ar behind ms the sleigh containing our
As my good fortune
'ould have it Il accompanied the prin-
ess and her husband, together with
mother young officer, Count s..
he night was piercingly cold. There
'as no break on the wide steppe. save
ere and there a clnmp Of somber pine
rees. The frozen plains stretched end
,ssly around us, dotted here and there
Y patches u reeds and rushes. Very
oon we heard the sound of a wolf
ack, host1i6k gruesomely from afar.
he sleigh dashed on, tho half frantic
orses tearing their way over the hard.
litterinR. snow. Suddenly the howl
y Of the wolves was heard drawing
carer. and presently We were able to
lstinguish the phosphorescent CLEAN
mitted by their glaring eyes, even be-
re we could define their forms. A
indie of straw had been tied behind
,e sleigh. and was being trailed along
a the snow, and, according TO the Gus
I'M Of experienced wolf hunters in
,ese regions, we had taken with us,
ed in strong canvas bag. q small
licking pig, which we pinched from
me to time for the purpose Of attract
g the wolves by its squeals and
tricks of protest The little princess
t motionless, her rife in her slender
,nds- her eyes fixed on the approach
g troop of wild animals. She seemed
,pervious to any sense of fear. and ap-
jared perfectly calm. although she
ust have known that hunts Of this
nd are the most dangerous and peril
IS ever attempted; for If by misfor.
ne the sleigh were to be overturned,
an accident happen to the horses. it
cant certain death to the occupants.
Nearer and nearer drew orr pursuers, /,
I'd we commenced to shoot Many
II. and for = few moments the pack :
emed frightened and slackened its
eed, possibly for the purpose of de-
'uring their wounded comrades, as is
cir custom But with the help of the !.
tie pigs squealSs we soon had them
ain at our heels. Things were going
spiendidly. and we were all in high :.
&c, when suddenly from a dark mass
Siberian pines. u few hundred yards
ead OF us. second pack Of wolves .
shed toward us SO Unexpectedly that 6
found ourselves almost surrounded. y
his was . dissgreeable surprise. The J
rrified horses reared and plunged rs )
ey saw their enemies making straight
them ut full gallop. Ivan, the '
achman. without losing his head.
hipped them up. whistled and I
reamed at them, and managed to u
art them OF again In An ol,linne lin. | s