WILD SPORT IN BRITTANY. 149 



fatal ; and down went the pig, like a cormorant, head-foremost 

 into the flood, but never more to rise again alive to the surface, 

 and down he was carried a lifeless mass over the cataract, the 

 hounds, many of them, pouring after him, as if still in full chase; 

 till it was a good hundred yards below ere he was fairly landed 

 and the mort sounded over his carcase. 



Shafto's coup de main, so adroitly directed, elicited, on behalf of 

 the hounds, the warmest expressions of gratitude from St. Prix, 

 who, unbuckling the belt that carried his cotiteau-de-ckasse, a well- 

 proved and priceless weapon, presented it to Shafto, telling him 

 at the same time he was quite sure its brightness would never be 

 tarnished in his hands. That couteati, at this moment, hangs in 



the old hall at Tower, and is not only valued for its history, 



but is the subject of many a stirring after-dinner story in that 

 festive room. 



It was past two o'clock ere the orgies enacted over this last 

 boar were brought to an end ; and, when the hounds were over- 

 hauled and counted, it was found that eight couple only were 

 sound and available for further work. However, this fact had 

 little weight with the peasants, who, in addition to their genuine 

 love of the sport, had yet a long score unpaid by the pigs for the 

 damage done to their crops during the past autumn. So, one and 

 all, knowing another pig to be within reach, and believing him to 

 be harboured in the genet, declared for more war : and St. Prix, 

 nothing loth, at once trotted off the hounds for that cover. 



" A fresh hat in the ring" is always looked upon as a formid- 

 able matter by the already half-beaten wrestler ; and though 

 he be a champion, doughty as Cann or Polkinghorne of old, the 

 inferior but fresh athlete will often prove an awkward customer j 

 and the handicap is thus rendered tolerably fair for both parties, 

 The boar, refreshed by two hours' rest, never waited a moment 

 for the hounds to rouse him : but, as the music of their tongues 

 rang on the stale line, he instantly broke cover for the open moor, 



