Wolf-Hunting in Russia 



night, but were not there at dawn ; much less 

 comforting was this news to those peasants 

 living at great distances who had no place 

 near to pass the night. The same informa- 

 tion was imparted the following day and the 

 day following, until it began to appear doubt- 

 ful whether we could longer delay in order to 

 try for this very migratory pack. 



Our chances of killing old wolves depended 

 largely upon this drive, for it was doubtful 

 whether we would make an attack upon the 

 third family, two days distant from our quar- 

 ters. Every possible precaution was taken to 

 make it a success. I was, however, impressed 

 with the fact that the most experienced mem- 

 bers of the hunting party were the least san- 

 guine about the old wolves. 



Some one remarked that my hunting knife, 

 with a six-inch blade, was rather short, and 

 asked if I meant to try and take an old wolf. 

 My reply was in the affirmative, for my inten- 

 tions at that stage were to try anything in the 

 form of a wolf. At this moment one of the 

 land proprietors, who had joined our party, 

 offered to exchange knives with me, saying 

 that he had not the slightest intention of at- 

 tacking a wolf older than two years, and that 



