128 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



a little apart from the rest. Even then he makes no 

 attempt to spring upon his prey, but keeps creeping 

 nearer and nearer, with his head leaning on his fore 

 feet, and wagging his tail in a friendly manner, to 

 imitate, as much as possible, the movements and 

 gestures of a watchdog. If the mare, deceived by 

 the treacherous pantomime, venture near enough to 

 the enemy, he will spring at her throat, and despatch 

 her before she have time to raise an alarm ; then, 

 seizing on the foal, he will make off with his booty, 

 and be out of sight perhaps before either herd or 

 herdsman suspect his presence. It is not often, 

 however, that the wolf succeeds in obtaining so easy 

 a victory. If the mare detect him, an instant alarm 

 is raised, and should the tabunshick be near, the wolf 

 seldom fails to enrich him with a skin, for which the 

 fur merchant is at all times willing to pay his ten or 

 twelve rubles. The wolf's only chance, on such 

 occasions, is to make for the first ravine, down which 

 he rolls head foremost, a gymnastic feat that the 

 tabunshick on his horse cannot venture to imitate. 



As the summer draws on, the wolf becomes less 

 troublesome to tne taboon ; but a season now begins 

 of severe suffering for the poor horses, who have more 

 perhaps to endure from the thirst of summer, than 

 from the hunger of winter. The heat becomes in- 



