The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-02-03

! our heels. As | missed the bells
was informed that the wolf. on &C
count of his innate cowardice, is scared
away by too much noise and would
not dare to come within the reach O
firearms. When we had left the
courtyard we struck a quick pace fol
the wooded hills, a quicker pace thar
| ever would have thought those rug
ged, shabby horses capable Of. We
| had driven at the rate of about three
| versts (less than two miles, when sud
denly our trot horse sank into the
snow, and, in his endeavors to get on,
Of the trap upset the sled. We con
graduated ourselves that this acci
dent occurred then instead of later
when we heard the howls of the fa
mished beasts all around US An at
tack on their part then would have
inevitably proved fatal to us. At the
san 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 proceeded on
our ride over the glittering snow.
After we had gone from three to
four versts more and reached the
forest Ivan suddenly stopped while
the servant we had with us fastetened
TO the rear of the sled q rope about
twenty five feet long. At the end of
this rope was attached piece Of pu
trld meat wrapped IN a bundle of hay
This Is the bait, which, in connection
with The squeaking of the pig, at
tracts the wolves within shooting
range. From this time we drove for
ward at 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 our tracks
Then suddenly gigantic wolf
emerged from the cover and sprang
upon the moonlit way. My heart pal
pitated feverishly. No one made any
movement and noiselessly our sled
went on. With his nose on the snow
the rascal followed us. | cannot
imagine what restrained me. but in
stead of firing at our pursuing foe [
stared at him as if spell bound, with
out even thinking of my gun. But
not SO with my friend Alexander p
With cold blood, steeled by mum
erous similar ventures, he was aim
ing at the game. Suddenly the re
port Of his gun startled the echoes of
the forest and Immediately we saw
the wolf turn around and leave a
black spot on the white surface Only
after the shot did hear the rustic
of fugitive animals on both sides, a
sign that many invisible foes were
following us.
After some time had elapsed we
halted in the middle of a clearing
The pig squealed pitifully, and |
somehow felt the presence of wolves
without seeing them. Presently l
saw dark body emerge from the
thicket Another followed and quick
as lightning two powerful wolves
darted into the white space. | aimed
at the one on the left, friend P at
the other. Both shots rang out sim
ultaneously and two objects rolled
over on the snow, to cease moving at
ter a few minutes. Then Ivan whip
ped up the admirably y trained horses
and drove back the same way that
We had come Hardly had we gone
back a hundred PAGES when P's gun
cracked again, third wolf paying
for his blood thirstiness with his life.
The next moment | became aware OF
a pair of red glaring eyes in tir
thicket. | fired, but must have miss
ell, for a 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 pricked up their
ears, and even the stoically calm Ivan
uttered an exclamation between oath
and bewilderment. As a powerful
wolf crossed the road close Ill front of
the horses L was on the point of turn
ing round, when | perceived a lank
and hungry looking beast emerge
from the ditch ana with a terrific
bound precipitate himself on the bait
at the end of the rope My gun
cracked simultaneously with that of
+. and the mighty fellow rolled i'll his
blood. Which of Us had killed HIM |
know not, but my amiable friend gave
the credit of the shot 20 me. We
drove back to our booty and loaded
ii on the sled tthe only Instance L
which We did so). rs | had expressed
the wish to have cover made ont oI
the fur, and we found hlm ali esppci
ally handsome specimen. Ga oul
way back we killed four more wolves
so that we felt amply satisfied witt
our nights work when we reached
home at about o'clock III the morn
! ing.