488 FROM NORTH POLE TO EQUATOR. 



lost. But almost all these birds of prey, which are as strong as 

 they are bold, have an instinctive feeling of such danger, and the 

 skill to avoid it. The very moment the fox turns, the eagle lets go 

 its hold, and an instant later its talons are fixed in its quarry's face. 

 Triumphant acclamations from its much-loved master, who now 

 draws near, encourage the eagle to hold fast, and a few minutes 

 later the fox, felled by the huntsman, lies dying on the ground. 

 Many an eagle has to pay for the boldness of its first venture with 

 its life; but if the first attempt is successful, it soon becomes so 

 skilful that it can be flown at a wolf. Though the attack on the 

 wolf is made in precisely the same manner, the eagle's bearing is, 

 from the very beginning, perceptibly more cautious; the size of the 

 wolf teaches it that it has to do with a much more dangerous foe. 

 But it learns to vanquish even the wolf, and its fame, as well as 

 its master's, spreads abroad among the people, and as its renown 

 becomes greater its value increases. An eagle which can kill a fox 

 is worth thirty or forty silver roubles; one which can vanquish 

 a wolf is valued at twice or three times as much, if, indeed, its 

 master would sell it at all. It is not possible to hunt with two 

 eagles, as one would disturb the other; but one alone often enters 

 into the chase with so much ardour that it makes it very difficult 

 for its master to help, especially if it will not willingly let go 

 its hold of the quarry it has seized. 



If the Kirghiz who is hunting with an eagle requires to bring 

 all his powers of horsemanship into play, that is still more necessary 

 when hunting antelopes with greyhounds. These rather long-haired 

 dogs run like shot arrows when they have sighted the game, and 

 the rider courses after them up hill and down dale ( until he and 

 they have overtaken the fleet fugitive. If anyone falls on such 

 a ride, he earns only a half -pitying, half -mocking smile, as the mad 

 hunt rushes past him. 



Even when driving game among the mountains, the Kirghiz do 

 not dismount from their horses. It was a magnificent sight to see 

 the horsemen who were driving wild sheep for our guns in the 

 Arkat mountains begin their break-neck ride. Here and there on 

 the highest points, as well as in the hollows, valleys, and ravines 



