138 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



had bounded the road at a few yards distance for a 

 considerable length, the owner, who was seated behind 

 with his back to the horses, espied a wolf rush out of 

 the angle of the wood, and give chase to the sledge at 

 the top of his speed. The man shouted to the boy who 

 was driving, "Farkas! farkas!" (a wolf! a wolf!) 

 " Itze het ! itze het ! " (drive on) ; and the lad, looking 

 round in terror, beheld the animal just clearing the 

 gripe which ran along the road they had passed. 

 Quick as lightning, with shout and whip, and with all 

 his might, he urged the horses to gain the village. 

 Away they flew at their fullest stretch, as if sensible 

 of the danger behind them, conveyed to them by the 

 exclamation of the lad, and the dreaded name of the 

 animal which he shouted in their ears. The man turned 

 his seat and urged the boy still more energetically to 

 lash the horses to their very utmost speed. He did 

 not need any further incentive, but pushed on the nags 

 with frantic exertion. The sledge flew over the slippery 

 road with fearful speed ; but the wolf urged yet more 

 his utmost pace, and gained fast upon it. The village 

 was distant about two hundred yards below the brow of 

 the hill. Nothing but the wildest pace could save them, 

 and the man felt that the wolf would inevitably spring 

 upon them before they could get to the bottom. Both 

 shouted wildly as they pursued their impetuous career, 

 the sledge swerving frightfully from one side of the road 

 to the other, and threatening every moment to turn 

 over. The man then drew his thick bunda (sheep-skin) 

 over his head ; he looked behind and saw the fierce, 

 panting beast within a few yards of him ; he thought 

 he felt his hot breath in his face ; he ensconced his head 

 again in his bunda ; and in another moment the wolf 



