The Banner-Democrat., 1892-11-26

Uttered the tables and consoles wit
books and bric-a-brac until the plae
resembled a palace. Although such
small creature, she had an indomitabl
spirit, and was famous sportswoma1
She shot. fished, drove and rode bette
than any woman have ever knowr
! She was passionately fond of the mos
dangerous Of sports, and even made
point of sharing our bear and VOL
hunts. She was not one of those won
en- who are apt to hamper men by re
quiring protection and attention in me
ments of danger, for she could be de
pended upon to see to her own safet,
under any kind of circumstance, an,
possessed such pluck and courage tha
she never gave MS any trouble whasso
ever. Moreover, she was continual,
planning some amusement or othe
TO enliven the long winter evenings, ant
even succeeded in organizing some pri
vate theatricals for the special benefil
OF our soldiers and their wives. So the
months passed and winter came on-s
bitter, cold winter. Sudden storms
and heavy falls of snow had wlitened
the plains and barred the dark forests
OF the Carpathian range. The icy wind
blew like a hurricane and the wolves
came down in hungry bands to the
lonely steppes. 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 a 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 our
days out of doors in violent exercise.
riding, sleighing or skating in the
teeth of an east wind, skimming 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 focks of wild
fowl, its rcedy wastes. its countless
frozen streams, it was grand in its own
peculiar way. As soon as the hush of
winter had settled down around us 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
mettled steeds over the silent plains.
stopping 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 rebuffed, and
she did much good among the poor and
also among our soldiers.
In January the inhabitants began to-
complain bitterly of the depredations
committed by the wolves. and the prin-
less urged us to organize a wolf hunt
IN the next clear moonlight night. The |
Wild beasts were infuriated by hunger
md ready for anything. On the 18th |
IT January we started in two sleiphs
which were drawn by young and swift
iorses and driven by clever and skillful |
'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
minutes he employed this incentive
With so good result that we soon left
ar behind us the sleigh containing our
ompanions. AS my good fortune
Tould have it accompanied the prin-
ess and her husband, together with
mother young officer, Count s.. Il
he night was piercingly cold. There
7as no break on the wide steppe, save
ere and there clump of somber pine
'ees. The frozen plains stretched end
'ssly around us, dotted here and there
y patches OF reeds and rushes. Very
BON we heard the sound of a wolf ,
ack, bowling gruesomely from afar.
he sleigh dashed on, the half frantic
orses tearing their way over the hard,
snow. Suddenly the howl
x OF the wolves was heard drawing ,
carer, and presently we were able to |
stinguish the phosphorescent CLEAN
nitted by their glaring eyes, even be- |
re we could define their forms. ALI
indie of straw had been tied behind
e sleigh, and was being trailed along !
the snow, and, according to the Gus
IN of experienced wolf hunters in !,
ese regions, we had taken with us, ;
ID In q strong canvas bag, a small
cking pig, which we pinched from .
ne to time for the purpose of attract 7
8 the wolves by it's squeals and r
rieks of protest. The little princess :,
motionless, her rifle in her slender
nds. her eyes fixed on the approach .
3 troop of wild animals. She seemed 2,
pervious to any sense of fear, and ap- r
ared perfectly calm, although she
lst have known that hunts of this
I'd are the most dangerous and peril
ever attempted; for If by misfor. A
ne the sleigh were to be overturned.
an accident happen to the horses, It
ant certain death to the occupants IN
Nearer and nearer drew our pursuers, :.
we commenced to shoot. Manv -
l and for few moments the pack .
med frightened and slackened it's "a
ed, possibly for the purpose of de- -
iring their wounded comrades. as is nc
ir custom. But with the help of the =.
ie pigs squeaks we soon had them w
lin at our heels. Things were going
splendidly, and we were all in high ce
9, when suddenly from dark mass 10
siberian pines, a few hundred Yards
ad OF us. second pack of wolves ma