stopped and got out of the sleigh to watch the
result, taking our station about two hundred
yards from the pig, behind a tree, with our
eyes on the place where we had last seen the
two wolves. The pig, meantime, finding himself
in a new position, put new zeal into his music.
The wolves left the cover with springs and jumps,
and soon approached the poor pig, who was in
no greater danger than ourselves. As they were
on the point of springing on the bag in fact,
one of them had made the jump—a sign caused
the driver to move on with his horses, thus
pulling the prey out of their reach, and setting
them both wondering what this could mean.
The wonder did not last long, for the wolves
distinctly had smelt pork, and meant to dine
on it.

They again approached the bag, and the bag
again receded, while the most vociferous and
resounding shrieks proceeded from the pig
inside. The wolves made a furious run, and
again the driver gave reins to the horses till
he had pulled the pig nearly on a line with the
place where Saunderson and I were standing:
the wolves following with tongues out and glaring
eyes. Both rifles went off at the same
moment, and, strange to say, only one wolf
rolled over. We had both fired into one. The
other wolf sprang for cover, but was stopped
and brought to bay by the three dogs, who
very soon made an end of him, receiving in
the struggle a few sharp bites from his ugly
teeth.

This method of decoying the wolves is
common in that part of the country, and it
is not unattended with danger, for, in case of
a large pack being attracted, nothing but fleet
horses can save the hunters. We had this
advantage, besides rifles and dogs, and were
prepared for as many wolves as might show
themselves.

"Do you hear that?" said Saunderson, as
an unmistakable howling yelp was borne to us
on the wind. "We have only killed the advanced
guard; the pack is in full cry. Be quick;
fetch in the pig, and let us drag these two
behind the sleigh."

We tied the rope round the neck of each wolf,
and dragged both as fast as possible, secured
the dogs in the sleigh, and jumped in ourselves.
Then off we sped again, wolves by this time
visible on each side of us and behind us. We
soon found we could sustain a pace of three
feet to their two, and this cleared us of risk.
All we had to do was to prevent their getting
ahead of us.

Having reloaded our empty barrels and
lighted our cigars, we kept watch on either side
for a good shot; but it is not easy to get a good
shot in a running sleigh, unless the object be
stationary, large, and near.

"Mattvic, go slower, keep your eye on the
horses, and pull up very gradually when I cry
'stop.'"

"I hear."

A detachment behind were now coming up
in fine style.

"Slower, Mattvic."

"I hear."

We got on our knees on the seat of the sledge
with our faces to the approaching wolves, about
fifteen in number; we rested our rifles on the
back, and as the wolves came up Saunderson
said,

"Now, take one on the left, and I'll take
one on the right, and as soon as you see their
teeth, fire."

"Stop, Mattvic."

"I hear."

Gradually the sleigh came to a stand. The
wolves were by this time within twenty yards of
us, and we could see their grinning and sharp
grinders, their tongues lapping, and the light
in their fiery eyes.

"Are you ready? Fire! Two down. Again!
The other barrel. Ready? Fire! Other two
down. Drive on, Mattvic, slowly; it will take
them some time to consider of that."

The wolves all stopped, and seemed to
gather round their fallen friends. A turn in
the wood hid them from view. Even our
enemies on the right and left flanks, paused at
the unexpected reports of the guns, and
allowed us to proceed without molestation. We
went more and more slowly, and at length
stopped altogether and waited; but no more
wolves came up.

"I am afraid," said Saunderson, "our
wolf-hunting is over for to-day. Drive on, Mattvic,
we can't help it."

"Listen, barons," said Mattvic. "We can
trap them all. I'll be the pig."

"Trap them. How?"

"It is easily done. About three versts from
this, is Timofey Evanoffage, the woodman's hut.
You have only to make one turn to the right,
and keep straight on, and you will reach it.
He has a wolf-trap. Get all ready, and I
will bring on the wolves. Never fear. Only
you must give me the little horse; he is swift
and sure; I have hunted wolves before with
him."

After a slight hesitation about the man's
safety, which he thought in no peril of any sort,
his plan was adopted. The little horse was got
out and given to Mattvic; Saunderson mounted
the dickey, and on we went ahead. Our man,
screaming like a pig, rode back to invite the
wolves to follow him into Timofey's trap. Around
Timofey's house, was a strong high palisade;
through this there was only one entrance, by a
door opening inward and hung by a pulley and
heavy balance-weight, so when a wolf pushed
himself through this door, it closed, and shut
him into the space between the house and
palisade. This space was again divided off by strong
cross-partitions round the premises, in each of
which was fixed a sliding panel or a drop panel,
that could be pulled up or let down from within
the house. By these means the inmates could
separate the wolves, and kill them with dogs,
guns, or hatchets, at their leisure. I had heard
of one man trapping in this manner as many as
fifty wolves in a winter, besides other game, the