I  do  not  exactly  recollect  whether  it was  in  Eastland  or  Jugemanland,  but  I  remember  that,  in  the midst  of  a  dreary  forest,  I  spied  a  terrible  wolf  making  after me,  with  all  the  speed  of  ravenous  winter  hunger.

He  soon  overtook  me.  There  was  no  possibility  of  escape. Mechanically  I  laid  myself  down  flat  in  the  sledge,  and  let my  horse   run   for  our   safety. What   I   wished,   but  hardly hoped  or  expected,  happened  immediately  after.  The  wolf  did not  mind  me  in  the  least,  but  took  a  leap  over  me,  and  falling furiously  on  the  horse,  began  instantly  to  tear  and  devour  the hind  part  of  the  poor  animal,  which  ran  the  faster  for  his  pain and  terror.  Thus  unnoticed  and  safe  myself,  I  lifted  my  head slily  up,  and  with  horror  I  beheld  that  the  wolf  had  eaten  his way  into  the  horse's  body.  It  was  not  long  before  he  had fairly  forced  himself  into  it,  when  I  took  my  advantage,  and fell  upon  him  with  the  butt  end  of  my  whip.  This  unexpected attack  in  his  rear  frightened  him  so  much,  that  he  leaped forward  with  all  his  might :  the  horse's  carcase  dropped  on  the ground  ;  but  in  his  place  the  wolf  was  in  the  harness,  and  I on  my  part  whipping  him  continually,  we  both  arrived,  in  full career,  safe  at  St.  Petersburg,  contrary  to  our  respective  expec- tations, and  very  much  to  the  astonishment  of  the  spectators.

- Chapter 1