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+====== TRAVELS OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN ======
+===== 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
+  entertain his company with a relation of such facts as are well
+  deserving their notice.//
+I set off from Rome on a journey to Russia, in the midst of winter,
+from a just notion that frost and snow must of course mend the roads,
+which every traveller had described as uncommonly bad through the
+northern parts of Germany, Poland, Courland, and Livonia. I went on
+horseback, as the most convenient manner of travelling; I was but
+lightly clothed, and of this I felt the inconvenience the more I
+advanced north-east. What must not a poor old man have suffered in
+that severe weather and climate, whom I saw on a bleak common in
+Poland, lying on the road, helpless, shivering, and hardly having
+wherewithal to cover his nakedness? I pitied the poor soul: though I
+felt the severity of the air myself, I threw my mantle over him, and
+immediately I heard a voice from the 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 pointed
+stump of a tree, which appeared above the snow; for the sake of safety
+I placed my pistols under my arm, and laid down on the snow, where I
+slept so soundly that I did not open my eyes till full daylight. It is
+not easy to conceive my astonishment to find myself in the midst of a
+village, lying in a churchyard; nor was my horse to be seen, but I
+heard him soon after neigh somewhere above me. On looking upwards I
+beheld him hanging by his bridle to the weather-cock of the steeple.
+Matters were now 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 the churchyard whilst asleep, gently, and in the same
+proportion as the snow had melted away; and what in the dark I had
+taken to be a stump of a little 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 bridle
+in two, brought the horse, and proceeded on my journey. [Here the
+Baron seems to have forgot his feelings; he should certainly have
+ordered his horse a feed of corn, after fasting so long.]
+He carried me well--advancing into the interior parts of Russia. I
+found travelling on horseback rather unfashionable in winter,
+therefore I submitted, as I always do, to the custom of the country,
+took a single horse sledge, and drove briskly towards St. Petersburg.
+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 slyly up, and with horror I beheld that the wolf had ate 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
+expectations, and very much to the astonishment of the spectators.
+I shall not tire you, gentlemen, with the politics, arts, sciences,
+and history of this magnificent metropolis of Russia, nor trouble you
+with the various intrigues and pleasant adventures I had in the
+politer circles of that country, where the lady of the house always
+receives the visitor with a dram and a salute. I shall confine myself
+rather to the greater and nobler objects of your attention, horses and
+dogs, my favourites in the brute creation; also to foxes, wolves, and
+bears, with which, and game in general, Russia abounds more than any
+other part of the world; and to such sports, manly exercises, and
+feats of gallantry and activity, as show the gentleman better than
+musty Greek or Latin, or all the perfume, finery, and capers of French
+wits or //petit-maîtres//.
+----
+Go to [[CHAPTER III]]