The Merry Past 



wood, the French were not visible on the arrival of 

 the Boulogne hounds ; and, after waiting some time, 

 and hearing or seeing nothing of them, the covert 

 was partially drawn, and they were about to return 

 (most of the hounds having been out the day before, 

 and having to go back to the home kennel that 

 night), when the French horns were heard in the dis- 

 tance. 



The wind being favourable, every now and then, 

 between the blasts of the horns, the deep-toned 

 baying of the hounds was heard ; but either being at 

 a great distance, or the hounds excessively slow, it 

 was full half an hour before they came in sight. At 

 last the French were seen running and endeavouring 

 to intercept the hare (for such proved to have been 

 the object of pursuit), and shoot it — this being 

 considered a tremendous piece of skill, and the ne 

 -plus ultra of a sportsman's ambition. 



On this occasion, however, they were disappointed ; 

 for puss coming down the hill, directly in front of the 

 Boulogne hounds, which were standing in a green 

 lane, headed back, and fell among her pursuers. 



She was saved by an English gentleman, and 

 handed over to the French on their coming up, who 

 after the usual salutations, and having recovered 

 their breaths, proceeded to eulogise the two hounds, 

 which had been given them, adding, that they had 

 changed their names out of compliment to the 

 donors, and that they had christened one " Com 

 here " (come here), and the other " G — d d — m." 



After the close of the Napoleonic wars several 



93 



