the surprising adventures of baron munchausen-第8章
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e of teals。 Presence of mind is the soul of manly exercises。 If soldiers and sailors owe to it many of their lucky escapes； hunters and sportsmen are not less beholden to it for many of their successes。 In a noble forest in Russia I met a fine black fox； whose valuable skin it would have been a pity to tear by ball or shot。 Reynard stood close to a tree。 In a twinkling I took out my ball； and placed a good spike…nail in its room； fired； and hit him so cleverly that I nailed his brush fast to the tree。 I now went up to him； took out my hanger； gave him a cross…cut over the face； laid hold of my whip； and fairly flogged him out of his fine skin。
Chance and good luck often correct our mistakes； of this I had a singular instance soon after； when； in the depth of a forest； I saw a wild pig and sow running close behind each other。 My ball had missed them； yet the foremost pig only ran away； and the sow stood motionless； as fixed to the ground。 On examining into the matter； I found the latter one to be an old sow； blind with age； which had taken hold of her pig's tail； in order to be led along by filial duty。 My ball； having passed between the two； had cut his leading…string； which the old sow continued to hold in her mouth； and as her former guide did not draw her on any longer； she had stopped of course； I therefore laid hold of the remaining end of the pig's tail； and led the old beast home without any further trouble on my part； and without any reluctance or apprehension on the part of the helpless old animal。
Terrible as these wild sows are； yet more fierce and dangerous are the boars； one of which I had once the misfortune to meet in a forest； unprepared for attack or defence。 I retired behind an oak…tree just when the furious animal levelled a side…blow at me； with such force； that his tusks pierced through the tree； by which means he could neither repeat the blow nor retire。 Ho； ho！ thought I； I shall soon have you now！ and immediately I laid hold of a stone； wherewith I hammered and bent his tusks in such a manner； that he could not retreat by any means； and must wait my return from the next village； whither I went for ropes and a cart； to secure him properly； and to carry him off safe and alive； in which I perfectly succeeded。
CHAPTER IV
/Reflections on Saint Hubert's stagShoots a stag with cherry… stones； the wonderful effects of itKills a bear by extraordinary dexterity； his danger pathetically describedAttacked by a wolf； which he turns inside outIs assailed by a mad dog； from which he escapesThe Baron's cloak seized with madness； by which his whole wardrobe is thrown into confusion。/
You have heard； I dare say； of the hunter and sportsman's saint and protector； St。 Hubert； and of the noble stag； which appeared to him in the forest； with the holy cross between his antlers。 I have paid my homage to that saint every year in good fellowship； and seen this stag a thousand times； either painted in churches； or embroidered in the stars of his knights； so that； upon the honour and conscience of a good sportsman； I hardly know whether there may not have been formerly； or whether there are not such crossed stags even at this present day。 But let me rather tell what I have seen myself。 Having one day spent all my shot； I found myself unexpectedly in presence of a stately stag； looking at me as unconcernedly as if he had known of my empty pouches。 I charged immediately with powder； and upon it a good handful of cherry…stones； for I had sucked the fruit as far as the hurry would permit。 Thus I let fly at him； and hit him just on the middle of the forehead； between his antlers； it stunned himhe staggeredyet he made off。 A year or two after； being with a party in the same forest； I beheld a noble stag with a fine full grown cherry… tree above ten feet high between his antlers。 I immediately recollected my former adventure； looked upon him as my property； and brought him to the ground by one shot； which at once gave me the haunch and cherry…sauce； for the tree was covered with the richest fruit； the like I had never tasted before。 Who knows but some passionate holy sportsman； or sporting abbot or bishop； may have shot； planted； and fixed the cross between the antlers of St。 Hubert's stag； in a manner similar to this？ They always have been； and still are； famous for plantations of crosses and antlers； and in a case of distress or dilemma； which too often happens to keen sportsmen； one is apt to grasp at anything for safety； and to try any expedient rather than miss the favourable opportunity。 I have many times found myself in that trying situation。
What do you say of this； for example？ Daylight and powder were spent one day in a Polish forest。 When I was going home a terrible bear made up to me in great speed； with open mouth； ready to fall upon me； all my pockets were searched in an instant for powder and ball； but in
vain； I found nothing but two spare flints： one I flung with all my might into the monster's open jaws； down his throat。 It gave him pain and made him turn about； so that I could level the second at his back… door； which； indeed； I did with wonderful success； for it flew in； met the first flint in the stomach； struck fire； and blew up the bear with a terrible explosion。 Though I came safe off that time； yet I should not wish to try it again； or venture against bears with no other ammunition。
There is a kind of fatality in it。 The fiercest and most dangerous animals generally came upon me when defenceless； as if they had a notion or an instinctive intimation of it。 Thus a frightful wolf rushed upon me so suddenly； and so close； that I could do nothing but follow mechanical instinct； and thrust my fist into his open mouth。 For safety's sake I pushed on and on； till my arm was fairly in up to the shoulder。 How should I disengage myself？ I was not much pleased with my awkward situationwith a wolf face to face； our ogling was not of the most pleasant kind。 If I withdrew my arm； then the animal would fly the more furiously upon me； that I saw in his flaming eyes。 In short； I laid hold of his tail； turned him inside out like a glove； and flung him to the ground； where I left him。
The same expedient would not have answered against a mad dog； which soon after came running against me in a narrow street at St。 Petersburg。 Run who can； I thought； and to do this the better； I threw off my fur cloak； and was safe within doors in an instant。 I sent my servant for the cloak； and he put it in the wardrobe with my other clothes。 The day after I was amazed and frightened by Jack's bawling； 〃For God's sake； sir； your fur cloak is mad！〃 I hastened up to him； and found almost all my clothes tossed about and torn to pieces。 The fellow was perfectly right in his apprehensions about the fur cloak's madness。 I saw him myself just then falling upon a fine full…dress suit； which he shook and tossed in an unmerciful manner。
CHAPTER V
/The effects of great activity and presence of mindA favourite hound described； which pups while pursuing a hare； the hare also litters while pursued by the houndPresented with a famous horse by Count Przobossky； with which he performs many extraordinary feats。/
All these narrow and lucky escapes； gentlemen； were chances turned to advantage by presence of mind and vigorous exertions； which； taken together； as everybody knows； make the fortunate sportsman； sailor； and soldier； but he would be a very blamable and imprudent sportsman； admiral； or general； who would always depend upon chance and his stars； without troubling himself about those arts which are their particular pursuits； and without providing the very best implements； which insure success。 I was not blamable either way； for I have always been as remarkable for the excellency of my horses； dogs； guns； and swords； as for the proper manner of using and managing them； so that upon the whole I may hope to be remembered in the forest； upon the turf； and in the field。 I shall not enter here into any detail of my stables； kennel； or armoury； but a favourite bitch of mine I cannot help mentioning to you； she was a greyhound； and I never had or saw a bett
