“I re-loaded very quickly, and when I looked up there were three wolves running toward me, while as many more were visible on Kanchin’s side.  My companion raised his eyes when his gun was ready and gave a start that thrilled me with horror.  Ivan was immovable in his place, and holding with all his might upon the reins.

“‘Poshol!’ shouted Kanchin.

“The howling grew more terrific.  Whatever way we looked we could see the wolves emerging from the forest;

    “’With their long gallop, which can tire,
    The hounds’ deep hate, the hunter’s fire.’

“Not only behind and on either side but away to the front, I could see their dark forms.  We fired and loaded and fired again, every shot telling but not availing to stop the pursuit.

“The driver did not need Kanchin’s shout of ‘poshol!’ and the horses exerted every nerve without being urged.  But with all our speed we could not outstrip the wolves that grew every moment more numerous.  If we could only keep up our pace we might escape, but should a horse stumble, the harness give way, or the sledge overturn, we were hopelessly lost.  We threw away our furs and cloaks keeping only our arms and ammunition.  The wolves hardly paused over these things but steadily adhered to the pursuit.

“Suddenly I thought of a new danger that menaced us.  I grasped Kanchin’s arm and asked how we could turn the corner into the main road.  Should we attempt it at full speed the sledge would be overturned.  If we slackened our pace the wolves would be upon us.

“I felt my friend trembling in my grasp but his voice was firm.

“‘When I say the word,’ he replied, giving me his hunting knife, ’lean over and cut the rope of the decoy.  That will detain them a short time.  Soon as you have done so lie down on the left side of the sledge and cling to the cords across the bottom.’

“Then turning to Ivan he ordered him to slacken speed a little, but only a little, at the corner, and keep the horses from running to either side as he turned.  This done Kanchin clung to the left side of the sledge prepared to step upon its fender and counteract, if possible, our centrifugal force.

“We approached the main road, and just as I discovered the open space at the crossing Kanchin shouted,—­

“‘Strike!’

“I whipped off the rope in an instant and we left our decoy behind us.  The wolves stopped, gathered densely about the prize, and began quarreling over it.  Only a few remained to tear the cage asunder.  The rest, after a brief halt, continued the pursuit, but the little time they lost was of precious value to us.

“We approached the dreaded turning.  Kanchin placed his feet upon the fender and fastened his hands into the net-work of the sledge.  I lay down in the place assigned me, and never did drowning man cling to a rope more firmly than I clung to the bottom of our vehicle.  As we swept around the corner the sledge was whirled in air, turned upon its side and only saved from complete oversetting by the positions of Kanchin and myself.