Hunting In Many Lands 



my knife was sufficient for that. I accepted 

 his offer. 



At a very early hour on this cold rainy au- 

 tumnal morning we set out on our way to the 

 marshy haunts of the game. Our party had 

 just been reinforced by the arrival of the com- 

 mander of the Empress's Chevalier Guard 

 regiment, an ardent sportsman, with his dogs. 

 All the available fox-hounds, sixty in number, 

 were brought out, and the 300 peasants 

 counted off. The latter were keen, not only 

 because a certain part of them had sportsman- 

 like inclinations, but also because each one re- 

 ceived thirty copecks for participation in the 

 drive. Besides this, they were interested in 

 the extermination of beasts that were living 

 upon their live stock. 



The picture at the start was more than 

 worthy of the results of the day, and it re- 

 mains fresh in my mind. The greater portion 

 of the peasants were taken in charge by the 

 chief beater, with the hounds, while the others 

 followed along with us and the barzois. Silence 

 was enforced upon all. The line of posts was 

 established as before, except that more care 

 was exercised. Each principal post, where 

 three barzois were held on leash, was strength- 



