The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen Page 4
CHAPTER II
_In which the Baron proves himself a good shot--He loses his horse,and finds a wolf--Makes him draw his sledge--Promises to entertainhis company with a relation of such facts as are well deserving theirnotice._
I set off from Rome on a journey to Russia, in the midst of winter, froma just notion that frost and snow must of course mend the roads, whichevery traveller had described as uncommonly bad through the northernparts of Germany, Poland, Courland, and Livonia. I went on horseback, asthe most convenient manner of travelling; I was but lightly clothed, andof this I felt the inconvenience the more I advanced north-east.What must not a poor old man have suffered in that severe weather andclimate, whom I saw on a bleak common in Poland, lying on the road,helpless, shivering, and hardly having wherewithal to cover hisnakedness? I pitied the poor soul: though I felt the severity of the airmyself, I threw my mantle over him, and immediately I heard a voice fromthe heavens, blessing me for that piece of charity, saying--
"You will be rewarded, my son, for this in time."
I went on: night and darkness overtook me. No village was to be seen.The country was covered with snow, and I was unacquainted with the road.
Tired, I alighted, and fastened my horse to something like a pointedstump of a tree, which appeared above the snow; for the sake of safety Iplaced my pistols under my arm, and laid down on the snow, where I sleptso soundly that I did not open my eyes till full daylight. It is noteasy to conceive my astonishment to find myself in the midst of avillage, lying in a churchyard; nor was my horse to be seen, but I heardhim soon after neigh somewhere above me. On looking upwards I beheld himhanging by his bridle to the weather-cock of the steeple. Matters werenow very plain to me: the village had been covered with snow overnight;a sudden change of weather had taken place; I had sunk down to thechurchyard whilst asleep, gently, and in the same proportion as the snowhad melted away; and what in the dark I had taken to be a stump of alittle tree appearing above the snow, to which I had tied my horse,proved to have been the cross or weather-cock of the steeple!
Without long consideration I took one of my pistols, shot the bridlein two, brought the horse, and proceeded on my journey. [Here the Baronseems to have forgot his feelings; he should certainly have ordered hishorse a feed of corn, after fasting so long.]
He carried me well--advancing into the interior parts of Russia. I foundtravelling on horseback rather unfashionable in winter, therefore Isubmitted, as I always do, to the custom of the country, took a singlehorse sledge, and drove briskly towards St. Petersburg. I do not exactlyrecollect whether it was in Eastland or Jugemanland, but I remember thatin 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. Therewas no possibility of escape. Mechanically I laid myself down flat inthe sledge, and let my horse run for our safety. What I wished, buthardly hoped or expected, happened immediately after. The wolf did notmind me in the least, but took a leap over me, and falling furiously onthe horse, began instantly to tear and devour the hind-part of the pooranimal, which ran the faster for his pain and terror. Thus unnoticed andsafe myself, I lifted my head slyly up, and with horror I beheld thatthe wolf had ate his way into the horse's body; it was not long beforehe had fairly forced himself into it, when I took my advantage, and fellupon him with the butt-end of my whip. This unexpected attack in hisrear 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 wolfwas in the harness, and I on my part whipping him continually: weboth arrived in full career safe at St. Petersburg, contrary to ourrespective expectations, and very much to the astonishment of thespectators.
I shall not tire you, gentlemen, with the politics, arts, sciences, andhistory of this magnificent metropolis of Russia, nor trouble you withthe various intrigues and pleasant adventures I had in the politercircles of that country, where the lady of the house always receives thevisitor with a dram and a salute. I shall confine myself rather tothe greater and nobler objects of your attention, horses and dogs, myfavourites in the brute creation; also to foxes, wolves, and bears, withwhich, and game in general, Russia abounds more than any other part ofthe world; and to such sports, manly exercises, and feats of gallantryand activity, as show the gentleman better than musty Greek or Latin, orall the perfume, finery, and capers of French wits or _petit-maitres_.