I2 4 WOLF-HUNTING. 



done their work admirably; and, so far from begrudging the 

 tribute to their fellow-piqueurs, my men will only be too happy 

 if it is given as M. Richard proposes." 



It had always been M. de St. Prix's custom to divide the 

 Government award thirty or fifty francs, according to the sex 

 of the wolf slain among his piqueurs ; just as in former days, 

 in this country, when a fox was killed, cap-money was levied 

 from the " field " and usually handed over to the huntsman, in 

 token of the sport and success achieved by the pack under his 

 management ; so that to " give Joe his half-crown " was fooked 

 upon as a happy privilege by those who were fortunate enough 

 to live with the chase and to see it crowned with a kill. There- 

 fore M. Richard, being well aware of St. Prix's practice, and 

 deeming that they, whose hounds had done the work on the 

 present occasion, were best entitled to the reward, proposed its 

 distribution accordingly ; and before M. de Kergoorlas could say 

 aye or nay in the matter he handed over thirty francs to the 

 chief piqueur, the very man who had been singed, while drunk 

 and incapable, on the previous night. 



The selection on the part of the mayor was not a happy one ; 

 and for this and other reasons Kergoorlas appeared anything but 

 gratified by the transaction ; however, he so far mastered his 

 feelings as to thank that official with the utmost courtesy, and at 

 the same time, drawing a handful of five-franc pieces from his 

 pocket, he beckoned to Louis Trefarreg, and at once made ample 

 amends for the loss of the largesse which he and his followers 

 were entitled to expect for a wolf slain by hounds in the 

 Louvetier's country. 



But the Breton noblesse are a proud and fiery race : and St. 

 Prix winced ominously at the unexpected and large compensation 

 made to his men, in lieu of the paltry sum paid by the mayor to 

 Kergoorlas's piqueurs ; and Keryfan subsequently told me that, 

 if such a liberty had been taken by any one less friendly than 



