Year: 1875

until he had almost lost his breath. But


such hecatomb Of slaughtered creatures lay
all around that the whole pack was checked.


while the sleigh, dragged slowly on by the
drooping horses, crept away from them.
The count had only been saved from the
teeth of those on his side by the thickness


of his fur clothing, while the Englishman
had only used the revolver two extra ones


of which he managed TO get from the rack
in the bottom of the sleigh.
| He came 70 his GOODNESS and courage at
| last. and fred with precision each time


down the nearest Gaping throat, and every


time dropping the enemy
They had only time to load their guns
before the bowling pack started Tor them
| again. the count, with the GOODNESS of vet
| eran. shooting them down one after another.
| They were still two miles from home.
"Ivan ?"


"Yes, count"


"The horses are doing all they camp
eyes, count"


"Give me the reins. Jump out and cut
| loose the leader! Put bullet through his
brains and get back quick, man quick, 1
sayw


The intelligent driver did as he was bid.
The horse died instantly. The driver was
back in his seat and the sleigh was moving
homeward again. The count now turned
once more and emptied gun after gun into
the crowd that stopped about the horse,
Il III
Good another mile and we are SAFE"
said the count.


But the horses could hardly move faster
than smart walk, now and then trottng a
few rods. They were completely used up.
The arms were once more all loaded, and
one by one, then by twos, at last altogether,
the wolves left the carcass of the horse. All
those precious moments in which they had
been thus engaged had been the salvation
of the party in the sleigh The house was
in sight. The horses made an extra effort
at the cheering view before them. The
count stood up and delivered dozen shots
one after another among the wolves, causing
still further check to their progress, and the
servants in the house, aroused by the noise,





threw wide the gates, through which the
horses crept and fell at once in the snow.


The gates were closed, and the well-armed
household poured voley after volley among
the ravenous creatures until there were none
left to devour the wounded The horses
were carefully rubbed and tended, and by
and-by judiciously fed, so that they were
in IN hatr pd
energies. But how about the two men?


Immediately on entering the ground, be-
hind the high walls of which they were
safe, the count sent for brandy and hot
water. The Englishman had tainted at last
from excitement and exertion. He poured
out half tumbler with some honey, and
made Ivan drink it as hot as possible but to
his companion he gave it clear, and in small
| spoonfuls at time, until he brought him
quite to himself again.


His own nerves and system seemed made
of iron, and he was quite as well as ever in
few moments after entering the house.


at was that poor horse that saved us after
all" said the count, as they sat smoking at
last before the broad, well-illed fire place.
"And it was providential that you put
him into the team after it came up to the
door," said his friend.


Then it was explained to the visitor that
this was remarkable instance. The heavy
SHOWS had cut off all sources Of food from
the wolves, and had thus rendered them
ravenous. At most seasons of the year,
they were very shy, and were hunted with
perfect safety, it being only necessary to
avoid them after nightfall, when they were
apt to herd in pack, in order to fight such
animals as were superior to themselves,
unless attacked by numbers at the same
time.


Young Hurbert never forgot that fight
with wolves upon the steppes of Russia.