242 THE TEEEIBLK 



(Wolf-month,) because more people were devoured by 

 wolves in that month than at other times. 



In the north and east of Europe, the danger incurred 

 by travellers in sledges of being hunted by packs of 

 hungry wolves is very great ; and many dreadful incidents 

 bear witness to their success. A very ' horrible one is 

 narrated by Mr Lloyd. A woman accompanied by three 

 of her children was one day travelling in this mode, when 

 she discovered that she was pursued by these gaunt foes 

 in full pack. She immediately put the horse into a 

 gallop, and drove towards her home, from which she was 

 not far distant, with all possible speed. All, however, 

 would not avail, for the ferocious animals gained upon 

 her, and at last were on the point of rushing on the 

 sledge. For the preservation of her own life, and that 

 of the remaining children, the poor frantic creature now 

 took one of the babes and cast it a prey to her blood- 

 thirsty pursuers. This stopped their career for a moment, 

 but, after devouring the little innocent, they renewed 

 their pursuit, and a second time came up with the vehicle. 

 The mother, driven to desperation, resorted to the same 

 horrible expedient, and threw her ferocious assailants 

 another of her offspring. To cut short this melancholy 

 story, her third child was sacrificed in a similar manner. 

 Soon after this the wretched being, whose feelings may 

 more easUy be conceived than described, reached her 

 home in safety. 



Mr Atkinson has sketched,* with his usual graphic 



* Siberia, p. 461. 



