482 THE CORNET'S ADVENTURES. 



But even if the wolf be attracted by the squeaks of the 

 pig, it is not always he will venture to approach within 

 gun-shot of the sledge. Should this be the case, the better 

 plan, particularly if there be two persons in company, is to 

 jump unobserved from off the vehicle whilst it is passing 

 a tree or a bush, and to lie in ambush for the beast, the 

 sledge waiting the while at some distance ahead. 



Some will have it there is danger in these nocturnal expe- 

 ditions ; but knowing what we do of the cowardly nature of 

 the wolf, I apprehend that if a man be true to himself, the 

 risk is not great. I do not speak from experience, however ; 

 for on the several different occasions of my trying the plan, 

 it was never my luck to fall in with even a single wolf. 

 A year or two after leaving Lapp-Cottage, in Wermeland, 

 where the reader may remember I was formerly located, a 

 friend of mine, Cornet Carl Geijer, was more fortunate. 

 But he shall tell his own story a somewhat singular one, 

 by the bye in his own words. 



" Some years ago, whilst I was residing at Uddeholm," 

 says the gallant officer, " the servant-girl came into my 

 room about eight o'clock one evening, and informed me 

 that she had just heard cries of distress on the lake Rada, 

 situate within twenty paces of the mansion ; which cries, 

 on going out of doors for the purpose of ascertaining the 

 truth of her report, I myself could also plainly distinguish. 

 A short time afterwards a peasant made his appearance, 

 and said that he had been attacked on the ice by a drove of 

 five wolves, who had attempted to take the horse from 

 him ; and that it was only by the aid of a stout cudgel 

 that he and the steed had escaped their jaws. 



