io WOLF-HUNTING. 



" C'est mon oncle, Frank," he responded, with perfect good- 

 humour, by way of explanation. 



But I firmly believe he was no more his uncle than his aunt 

 not he. There was a great deal too much ceremony between 

 them for so near a relationship. 



Sixteen couple of hounds, wire-haired, but not rough, standing 

 four or five-and-twenty inches high, with plenty of bone for their 

 bulk, were held in couples on a plot of greensward hard by ; 

 while two keen-eyed peasants, acting as piqueurs, had each a 

 single hound in a long leash the limiers of the chase. One of 

 the men, clad from head to foot in a brown goat-skin suit, gave a 

 cheering account of the game before us. 



" I have tracked in," he said, " at least three, if not four, full- 

 grown wolves ; one, by his long claws, is an old wolf ; the rest I 

 think are cubs." 



" And I," said the other, " have gone the circuit of KerglofF 

 twice, and will swear not a wolf has left the cover this day." 



" Bravo ! " cried St. Prix ; " let go the limiers, and, Keryfan, 

 do you and your friend get down-wind with all speed ; and, hark 

 ye, if the old wolf breaks, let her go, and stop the hounds, or 

 she'll carry them to Llanderneau. We have a good day's work 

 before us, that's certain." 



In one minute the limiers were throwing their tongues 

 vigorously and freely ; and, at a signal from St. Prix's horn, the 

 whole pack were at once uncoupled and clapped into cover. I 

 have heard " Jack Russell's " hounds find their fox in the rocky 

 depths of Hawkridge Wood ; and Mr. Trelawny's pack view theirs 

 among the cliffs of Skerraton, waking a thousand echoes with 

 their frantic tongues ; but never have I listened to such a crash 

 as that which now greeted my ears, and sent the blood whizzing 

 through my veins. Fancy sixteen couple of deep-mouthed hounds 

 uniting in one grand peal of music, and sending forth such a salvo 

 that, if the oaks of the forest were " listening oaks," as Horace 



