WILD SPORT IN BRITTANY. 163 



" This offer was at once accepted ; but a difficulty arose as to 

 liow the negotiation was to be completed, the danger of inter- 

 course with the shore presenting a serious obstacle against the 

 fulfilment of the bargain. However, the ready wit of the Breton 

 nobleman, now sharpened by necessity, quickly suggested a safe 

 expedient. ' Let the dog be my messenger/ said he. ' If you 

 put him ashore at Penmarch Point, with a private letter of mine 

 attached to his collar, he will speedily reach home, and the result, 

 I feel certain, will be satisfactory/ 



" Accordingly this was done. The ddg and the letter were 

 soon conveyed to the said point, when, screeched at by the blue- 

 jackets, he started homewards at full speed. Nor were they kept 

 waiting long for the pigs : a couple of wild Breton peasants were 

 seen from the ship pricking forward the four huge hogs slowly but 

 steadily towards the shore. They were soon transported to the 

 frigate ; and, when he was restored to his boat, the Baron's feel- 

 ings may be better imagined than described as he bid adieu to the 

 captain and crew, with tears of joy and gratitude in his eyes. For 

 years afterwards, whenever he met an Englishman, the Baron 

 never failed to make a joke of this capture, and to boast of the 

 value at which he had been estimated by a hungry British sailor 

 at four pigs only." 



By the time St. Prix had finished his story Rosporden had 

 been passed, and the team was trotting merrily over the stones 

 into the little seaport of Concarneau, a town that once possessed 

 fortified walls and a strong castle, built by Anne of Brittany, but 

 is now famous only for its sardine fishery and marine observatory ; 

 but of this more anon in the next chapter. 



