pig likes being put into a sack, and when a pig does not like a thing he
squeals as though he were being killed. The sportsmen drive slowly
through the wood by night, and all the while the pig is making a
terrible din--a din that can be heard a mile or two away. If there is
one thing in the world that a wolf prefers above another, as a delicacy,
it is pork. Every wolf in the forest hears the yelling of the pig, and
comes to see what is the matter, and whether there is a chance of any
pork for supper. Sometimes the beasts become so excited that they will
come quite close to the sledge in which the pig is squealing in its bag.
Then comes the chance of the man with the gun.'

'Good,' said I, 'that sounds all right; we will try it to-morrow night.
Is there a pig to be had?'

'Anton's sow has a litter a month or two old. I will buy one--a rouble
will purchase it.'

Gavril procured the pig, and brought it safely housed in a small sack.
It was squealing when he brought it, and I may say, without
exaggeration, that so long as that pig and I were together, it never
ceased for more than a second to give vent to its feeling of disgust and
anger at the treatment to which it was subjected.

'I chose it for its voice,' said Gavril, grinning; 'the wolves prefer
loud music; they come miles to hear it!'

Then we settled ourselves in the extremely comfortable village sledge
which Gavril had brought with him, and started for our midnight drive.

That drive was delicious. The moonlight, the ghostly pines, the cold
crisp air, the gleaming snow everywhere, the delightful motion, all
added to the delight of it; the horrible noise made by our little friend
in the sack was the only thing that broke the peace.

I dozed at intervals, and perhaps Gavril dozed also. At any rate, he
gave me no warning of what was coming, and the sudden shock of it, I
have reason to believe, surprised him as much as myself. I was fast
asleep at the moment, and the entire situation burst upon me with
absolute suddenness. I was conscious of a sudden violent jolt, the
sledge overturned--or half upset, and righted itself, and I found myself
rolling in the snow, together with the sack and the little squealing
pig, which yelled lustily--more lustily than ever--in protest at being
pitched out.

What had happened was this. First one wolf, then another had appeared on
either side, among the trees, and Gavril was just putting out his hand
to awake me, when a third w