WILD SPORT IN BRITTANY. 57 



great injustice ; for, as I afterwards discovered, Kledan feared no 

 man, and would speak the truth in the face of death itself. How 

 this altercation would have terminated, it is useless now to con- 

 jecture , but, just at the moment it bid fair to culminate into 

 violent action between St. Prix and the braconnitr, a peasant 

 opportunely appeared in the field, hastening towards us, and 

 bearing by his manner some tidings of import to some of the 

 party. He walked straight up to the Louvetier, and, lifting his 

 hat respectfully, entreated his immediate help at Trefranc. 

 " For," said he, " the wolves are eating us up there. Two days 

 ago they killed my cow by daylight ; and last evening they seized 

 my horse by the gullet, and would have killed him in half a 

 minute, if I had not rushed to his rescue and scared the brutes 

 away : as it is, they have stripped his skin down from the throat 

 to the chest. So pray, monsieur, don't delay." 



St. Prix at once slipped a five-franc piece into his hand, and 

 gladdened the poor fellow's heart further by saying : " To-morrow 

 morning my hounds shall be at Trefranc Rocks at eight o'clock ; 

 and if the loup-garou is roused, let him look to his skin." 



