THE HUNT--CONTINUED
My heart gave a wild leap and I grabbed hold of the side of the sled
for support. Then a great many things happened, but I recall them to
the smallest detail.
As the tiger's roar rang out, all the horses tied to the trees and in
my care broke their halters and rushed wildly away. Daria's two horses
attached to the sled, followed, leaping over all obstacles. Daria's
greatest efforts were powerless to even reduce their speed. I soon
forgot all about them, however, so intent did I become on the picture
before me.
I saw Foma, who was nearest, make a few jumps toward him and then
kneel and point his rifle at the beast who clung to Mikhailov. A shot
followed. Immediately after, the tiger turned, looking just like a big
cat. He gave three or four convulsive shakes and fell back without a
sound on the snow, his hind legs sinking deep into it, and his front
legs stretched to the sky.
I ran toward Mikhailov, but, before I reached him, I felt a strong arm
on my neck and a voice interrupted by deep breathing: "Stop, you crazy
boy! Wait! He might be able to break your neck yet. A tiger doesn't
die as quickly as that." I stopped, and with the man who had spoken
gazed where the tiger lay. It remained motionless. After a few seconds
my companion judged it safe to approach. Foma had shot him in the ear,
killing him instantly.
Mikhailov was lying with his right side and part of his head deeply
imbedded in the snow. His fur coat had been torn from his shoulder,
revealing a deep wound from which the shoulder blade projected. At
first sight his head seemed attached to the body only by a shred of
skin, so unnaturally was it twisted to one side and covered by a thick
mass of blood.
Though shivering as if with a fever, I could not turn my eyes from the
terrible sight. I regained possession of myself only when I heard my
father's voice as he came up on horseback.
As he jumped down to examine Mikhailov he turned saying, "Go, help my
brother catch Daria's horses."
The man addressed leaped at once on father's horse and hit it with a
_nagaika_ (a Cossack whip). The spirited animal put back its ears, and
like an arrow shot out toward where Daria's horses could be just seen
running around in circles in the snow.
One by one the other hunters arrived and stood around Mikhailov. No one
seemed to know what to do, and no one dared, apparently, say what he
thought, although two of the men took off their hats as is generally
done in the presence of Death.
Finally some one did turn to my father with, "Is he quite dead?"
As if in answer, Mikhailov just then made a faint movement with a
finger of his left hand. It seemed to me that he was trying to signify
something by this, especially as it was followed by a slight moan or
two. Then again there was silence.
Here some of the men began to talk, wondering how he could have made so
great a blunder. My father stopped them. "It's time to do something,"
he said, and beckoning to two others to help him, tried to raise the
wounded man into a more comfortable position. Mikhailov groaned faintly.
"Better let him die without hurting him," interjected my uncle, turning
his head away.
"But look!" quickly exclaimed an intelligent-looking young man. "His
face isn't injured at all. Only his neck is torn. He might live long
enough to take the sacrament at least, and even, perhaps, make his last
will."
Four of the men again raised Mikhailov, my father supporting his head,
and placed him on a saddle blanket that had been stretched out on the
snow.
Meanwhile Daria's horses had been caught and she had driven up. As soon
as sufficiently near, she slipped down from her sleigh and tottered
toward the wounded man. Blood was still dripping from the neck.
"Fools!" she exclaimed, looking indignantly at the men. "It's lucky the
blood has partially clogged or he would have bled to death before your
eyes."
Then turning to one of the Cossacks she added: "Your blouse looks
clean. Give it to me."
Without a word the man took it off and handed it to her.
Paying no attention to the bits of advice that now began to be given,
such as "Put some tobacco on the torn place," "Powder is the best
thing," she tore the shirt into pieces and began to bandage the wound.
I watched her quick, sure movements with a constantly growing
admiration, my former liking for her changing to a sort of reverent
love.
When she had finished and stretched herself with difficulty, I found
that the men had not been idle. Dried twigs had been spread in the
sleigh and these covered with several horse-blankets, the whole forming
a comfortable bed. The quickness with which it had been made showed
that the Cossacks were used to needing it.
Several Cossacks now lifted the wounded man on to the sleigh with as
great care and skill as that possessed by the best trained nurses. They
then helped Daria to an especially prepared place by his side. My
uncle took the driver's seat, and I, without waiting for invitation or
permission, jumped up next to him. Slowly we drove off.
I looked back once or twice to see what those left behind were doing.
Some of them hung the tiger to a strong tree, the skin having already
been loosened from his legs. Then they carefully cut the thin under
skin with their hunting knives and gradually pulled it off from the
tail down.
As soon as we arrived at the village, a man was sent on the swiftest
horse to be found, to the nearest _stannica_ (an administrative Cossack
station) where a doctor was to be found.[12]
It was not until late at night that the doctor arrived. When he had
examined the wound, he said: "I can't understand how he has lasted so
long with so little help."
"Will he live?" some one asked.
The doctor shook his head. "There's but little chance of that," he said.
But I may as well say here that Mikhailov did live, his wonderful
constitution pulling him through. His neck, however, was crippled,
his head always inclining toward the left side, and his left arm
practically disabled. The accident taught him wisdom, and later he took
to hunting again, becoming the most renowned hunter of wolves and bears
in our district.
The tiger skin was sold to a passing merchant for sixty rubles, while
the tiger's heart was bought by a Chinaman, who intended, it was said,
to reduce it to powder and sell it to those who thought that they could
thus have some of the tiger's bravery transmitted to them. The skull
was given to Daria in acknowledgment of her services, and kept by her,
with many other very curious things, in the front room of her little
log house.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 12: Each district has its own doctor receiving pay from the
government. His duty is to attend to all Cossacks and their families,
free of charge, whenever necessary.]