THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 121 



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

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

 twelve rubles. The wolfs 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 the 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- 

 tolerable, and shade is nowhere to be found, save what 

 the animals can themselves create, by gathering 

 together in little groups, each seeking to place the 

 body of his neighbor between himself and the burning 

 rays of a merciless sun. The tabunshick often lays 

 himself in the centre of the group, for he also has 

 nowhere else a shady couch to hope for. 



The autumn again is a season of enjoyment. The 

 plains are anew covered with green, the springs yield 

 once more an abundant supply of water, and the 

 horses gather strength at this period of abundance, to 

 prepare themselves for the sufferings and privations of 

 winter. In autumn, for the first time in the year, the 

 taboon is called on to work, but the work is not much 

 more severe than the exertions which the restless 

 creatures are daily imposing upon themselves, while 

 7 



