74 WOLF-HUNTING. 



not be hounds already entered to the scent which could train 

 them to their work, it would be advisable to slaughter a carcase 

 and place it near a water-mill, on the other side of its small 

 stream ; and there, within the mill, to conceal a cross-bow man, 

 armed with his cross-bow and bolt, to shoot at the wolf when he 

 comes to devour the carcase ; then, having wounded him, let 

 him bring his young hounds, not more than a year or so old, 

 and clap them on the blood and trace of the wolf, exciting and 

 encouraging them to the scent with a goodly company of men. 

 Thus, by following the trail of the blood, they will at length 

 come up to the wounded wolf, and, disabled as he is, will bay 

 around him ; and if he is dead they will paw him with their feet. 



" That being done, it would be well to skin the wolf and cook 

 his flesh, and when it is well cooked to chop it into pieces, and 

 mixing it with good wheaten bread, milk, and cheese, to stuff it 

 into the wolf's skin, in order that it might be impregnated with 

 the odour and taint of the brute. Then sound the horns, open 

 said skin near the throat and mouth, and let the hounds rush in 

 and eat the whole. So ought all the first wolves, when taken, to 

 be thus treated." 



The ordinary plan, however, adopted by St. Prix and other 

 masters of wolf-hounds, considering the variety of riot to which 

 young hounds are exposed, and the impenetrable character of 

 the Breton covers, is found to be a safe and successful one. 

 The limier first warms upon the drag, then a few steady old 

 hounds are uncoupled, and when they have settled on the scent, 

 another batch, the next steady to them, are allowed to join the 

 cry ; and so on by relays, till at length the puppies are thrown in, 

 and encouraged by shout and horn to take their part in the 

 exciting chase. Nor is this system discontinued when the season 

 has advanced, and the young hounds have been well entered, for 

 the further reason that a Brittany pack is not kept exclusively to 

 one game, but, on the contrary, is expected to hunt deer, boar, 



