War and Peace Ch. 136: The Wolf Hunt Begins

Summary

The old count, merry on the fifteenth of September, has handed the hunt to Nicholas and joins a party of about a hundred thirty dogs and twenty horsemen. Nicholas, stern and unwilling to hear Natásha or Pétya, inspects every detail, sends hounds ahead, and mounts his chestnut Donéts toward the Otrádnoe wood. His father's sorrel Viflyánka is led by a groom while Count Ilyá Rostóv will drive a trap to a reserved stand. Beyond the fence they spread in silence. Each dog knows its master and each man his place.

Neighbour Uncle, a distant relative of small means, rides out of the mist with five horsemen and warns that the Ilágins are at Kornikí and may steal the wolf cubs from under their noses. Nicholas joins the packs. Natásha on black Arábchik and laughing Pétya gallop up; Uncle disapproves of mixing frivolity with serious sport and tells them not to override the hounds. Nicholas places Natásha where nothing can run out, calls the famous old borzoi Karáy, and takes his post above the ravine.

Count Ilyá Rostóv arrives flushed over the winter rye, drinks a silver cup of mulled brandy and half a bottle of Bordeaux by old custom, and stands with Simon Chekmár, three fat wolfhounds, groom Mítka, and the buffoon Nastásya Ivánovna in a woman's cloak. Simon praises Natásha's riding and Nicholas's skill until hounds give tongue. Daniel's horn lifts the wolf cry; the packs split; then the wolf lopes exactly where the count daydreams with a snuffbox in hand. Borzois slip, Mítka shouts, Daniel screams that sportsmen have let it go, lashes his sweating chestnut, and the count smiles like a punished schoolboy while the quarry vanishes into the wood.

In this chapter:Terms Characters Key Quotes Modern Story

Why This Matters

Guarding the Critical Post

Teams fail at the gap, not in the plan. Every hunter and hound knows place until the count daydreams with snuffbox in hand and Daniel screams that sportsmen let the wolf go.

Whoever holds the choke point must stay alert when others have done their part.

This chapter

Inside the Mind: Count Rostov

Count Rostov drinks the customary brandy at his stand and turns back his coat for a snuffbox anecdote. The wolf lopes exactly where he is not watching. Later he smiles like a punished schoolboy, hoping Simon will take his side: the hunt was a social part, and he would rather be forgiven than useful.

Continue this thoughtThe Wish to Be Authored

Coming Up in Chapter 137

Nicholas Rostov remains at his post, waiting for the wolf. By the way the hunt approaches and recedes, by the cries of dogs whose notes he knows, he realises what is happening at the copse. Young and old wolves are there, the hounds have split into two packs, and he expects the beast any moment.

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Chapter 136

The Wolf Hunt Begins

The old count, who had always kept up an enormous hunting establishment but had now handed it all completely over to his son’s care, being in very good spirits on this fifteenth of September, prepared to go out with the others. In an hour’s time the whole hunting party was at the porch. Nicholas, with a stern and serious air which showed that now was no time for attending to trifles, went past Natásha and Pétya who were trying to tell him something. He had a look at all the details of the hunt, sent a pack of hounds and…

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The Wolf Hunt Begins

Summary

Why This Matters